



COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. 




W. L. CURRY 

1913 




SOLDIIOHS' M1>M MKNT. NKW CALiroK M V. r»!110. 

The Monument stands on the northwest corner of the Square, facing 

South. The building in the rear and to the risht is the old Seceder 

Clnirch. now used as a Town Hall. 



HISTORY 



-OF- 



JEROME TOWNSHIP 

UNION COUNTY, OHIO 



' 'Memory, a source of pleasure and instruction, 
is the only paradise out of which we cannot be 
driven awa^. " — Rogers. 



By 
W. L. CURRY 



COLUMBUS, - OHIO 
1913 



.JSUCf 



Copyrighted, 1913 

Sj; w. l. curry 

Published in October, 1913 



MAR 25 1314 



Proa of 

The Edaard T. Miller Co. 

Columbus, Ohio 



€'ci.An7j nnj 



CONTEZNTS 



PAGE 

Preface 4-5 

Jerome Township Organized 7 

Indians 8 

First Settlement - 9 

The Log Cabin 11 

Hunting and Trapping...... 13 

The Log Schoolhouse 20 

Barring the Teacher Out 23 

Milling and Early Industries 24 

Social Gatherings 30 

Churches 35 

Village of Plain City 40 

Village of Jerome 42 

Village of New California 48 

Village of Arnold 57 

Jerome Township Officials 58 

Dedication of Soldiers' Monument 60 

Historical Address 64 

War History 72 

Civil War 73 

The Boys of 'Ql — Poem 78 

History of Regiments 80 

Spanish American War 162 

Colonel George Ruehlen — Biographical Sketch 168 

Mexican War 170 

War of 1812 175 

War of the Revolution 181 

Our Boys of Other States 184 

Our Heroines 186 

Roster 191 

Soldiers Buried in Jerome Township 201 

Our Heroic Dead 203 



PREFACE. 

In distinction from romance, history is defined as "A true 
story or record of important events," and the writing and pub- 
lication of this little volume was undertaken with the desire 
that there may be a continuity of some of the facts already 
published in a county history some twenty years ago, as it was 
my fortune to furnish the greater part of the Jerome Township 
history for that publication. 

By reason of the limited space in this volume, many inter- 
esting historical incidents must be omitted, yet we of the third 
generation from the pioneers who first settled in Jerome 
Township, have heard from the lips of our fathers and mothers 
many thrilling stories of Indian warfare, hunting, and other 
interesting incidents of pioneer life, which should be handed 
down to our descendants. 

It has therefore been a pleasant duty to record for the 
future historian some of the facts that have not been hereto- 
fore published, to be utilized fifty years hence when he writes 
of the present progressive fourth generation. The story of 
the manner of living in the log cabins, the trials and hardships 
of the early settlers, will always be of intense interest to the 
young. The first generation has all passed to the other shore, 
and I hope they abide in a land where the birds sing as sweetly, 
the streams flow as gently as they did along the banks of Darby 
Creek and Sugar Run a century ago. 

Perhaps the boys and girls of fifty years ago, whose hair 
is now sprinkled with the frosts of three score and ten winters, 
when they glance at these pages, may go back in memory as I 
have done, gaze into the wood fire at the old homestead, and 
live over again the days of childhood and youth. 

Walking down the other side of the hill facing the sunset 
of life you can see in that flickering blaze the corner in the 
old fireplace where you conned over your lessons in the long 
winter evenings, read the weekly newspaper, cracked hickory 



nuts gathered from the old shellbark tree down in the meadow, 
ate Bellflower apples and drank cider. 

As you muse, hear again the sweet strains of the old songs, 
"Where are the friends that to me were so dear, 
Long, long ago, long, long ago" ; 
"Home, Sweet Home," listen to the thrilling stories of adven- 
ture, broken now and then by the bark of the faithful dog on 
the doorstep. 

In the war history, writing in undue eulogy of any organi- 
zation or arm of the service has been studiously avoided. It 
is not intended to extol the service of any soldier or officer, 
but to give credit where credit is due to any organization, and 
to give the service of each regiment as shown by official 
records. 

Believing all soldiers, in whatever organization they may 
have served, to be equally patriotic, brave and faithful, wher- 
ever the fortunes of war cast them — whether heroes of the 
Revolution, Soldiers of the War of 1813, Mexican War, Civil 
War, or Spanish-American War. 




JEROME TOWNSHIP, UNION COUNTY, OHIO. 

The township was organized March 12, 1821, and the first 
election was held May 10, 1821, for the selection of Justice 
of the Peace. Clark Provin received the entire fifteen votes 
cast. James Ewing, Frederick Sager and Simeon Hager were 
the judges of the election. John Taylor and John McCune 
were the clerks. 

When the first settlers came into the territory in Jerome 
Township along Darby Creek, it was the favorite "hunting 
grounds" of the Indians. In many places the traces of their 
wigwams still remained and the country was full of all kinds 
of game, including bears, deer, wolves, panthers, and small 
game. 

Just north of Plain City, the Indians had a town where 
they lived in large numbers in wigwams covered with bark, 
until about the year 1800. 

On the old Kent farm on Sugar Run was a sugar camp 
where the Indians manufactured maple syrup. Parties from 
Chillicothe often came here to trade for large quantities of 
raccoon skins and other furs. At this time the Indians were 
generally friendly. 

The first sheep were brought to the township by James 
Ewing and he had to keep them confined in a high pen built 
of logs to keep the wolves from attacking them. One day, a 
number of Indians called at his cabin and one of the dogs be- 
longing to the Indians jumped into the pen and attacked the 
sheep, whereupon Mr. Ewing took his rifle and killed the dog. 
This made the Indians very angry, and they had some trouble. 
As it happened, Jonathan Alder, who had been among the 
Indians for many years and understood their ways, interposed 
and peace was established between the Indians and the white 
men. 

Wolves were very plentiful, but soon after the settlement 
was established, a bounty of $4.00 a scalp was paid by the 



8 History of Jerome Township 

county, which resulted in killing off the larger number of 
wolves. 

Jonathan Alder lived in Jerome Township on the west side 
of Darby, just north of Plain City. He was taken prisoner 
by the Indians in Virginia when he was a small boy and lived 
with them until he grew to manhood. When he lived in 
Jerome Township he had a squaw wife. At this time he 
talked the Indian language entirely, but soon re-learned the 
English language. He finally parted from his squaw wife and 
she went northward with her people. He then married a 
white girl, but always seemed to be very much afraid of his 
squaw wife. The squaw wife did visit Mr. Alder's house 
during his absence and destroyed much of his white wife's 
wardrobe. She then left the neighborhood and that seems 
to have been the last he heard of her. The following is the 
inscription on his tombstone : 

" Jonathan Alder, born September 17, 1773. 
Taken prisoner by the Indians in 1781. 
Died January 30, 1849." 

When the War of 1812 opened, apprehensions of trouble 
with these Indians were entertained, but they remained 
friendly and no hostilities or difficulties arose to mar their 
peaceful relations. Some of the rougher class of settlers were 
on intimate terms with the Indians and would go to their 
camps and join in the convivial feasts that were held there. 
The children of the earliest pioneers were for a time in mortal 
dread of them and it required a long time before they could 
be accustomed to their presence. 

James Robinson had one of the earliest orchards in the 
vicinity, and after the trees approached the age of bearing he 
was greatly annoyed by the birds that had a strong liking for 
his choice fruit, and manifested the design of indulging their 
appetites before it was ripe enough to pluck. Some Indian 
lads, belonging to several families near by, were very expert 
in shooting birds with their small bows and arrows, and Mr. 
Robinson agreed with them, by means of signs, that for each 
bird they killed in the orchard he would give an apple. It 








l>OG CAIUN HOMESTEAD OF STEPHEXSOX CURRY. 

(Erected 182;i.) 




OLD SCHOOLHOl SE, > E\V CALIFORXIA. 

(Erected 1S52.) 




ObD SKCKUKK (HI itCH, \K\\ t'A LIFOIIMA. 

(Erected 1852.) 




r\>\i.i{\ \> \ri'.ni\(., < ii \ i i- \\»mm; \ \\i.i,im, tknvkssee. 



History of Jerome Township 9 

happened that the following day was Sunday, and as Mr. 
Robinson, who was a God-fearing Presbyterian, was engaged 
in the usual morning prayers, the Indian lads rushed in with 
a bird they had killed. The conscientious pioneer could not 
tolerate the idea of profaning the Sabbath by this unhallowed 
sport, and by shaking his head and gesticulting, intimated to 
them that they must not engage in it that day. They departed 
highly incensed, thinking he had withdrawn from his agree- 
ment, and after the old folks had gone to church that day, the 
Indian youths amused themselves by pointing their weapons 
at the children left at home, who fled to the house for protec- 
tion and remained within with bolted doors till their parents 
returned. 

When the troubles of 1813 had commenced, it was several 
times rumored that the Indians had taken up arms and were 
preparing to make a raid upon the settlement. Many families, 
panic-stricken, deserted their homes and fled farther south. At 
one time, a party of settlers, including Moses Mitchell, then a 
lad of sixteen years, fearlessly marched to the Indian villages 
far to the north to ascertain if they had concluded to put on 
the war paint and make the rumored attack. They found the 
Indians sitting in council, but with no hostile intent. The band 
of whites remained with them all night, then returned to their 
friends and quieted their fears. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT. 

The first settlers in the territory of Jerome Township were 
Joshua and James Ewing, two brothers. They settled in this 
territory in 1798 and erected the first cabin on the west bank 
of Darby Creek about one mile north of Plain City. This was 
the first cabin erected in the territory of Union County. Lucas 
Sullivant had laid out a town near this spot and called it North 
Liberty, about a year before the Ewings emigrated from Lex- 
ington County, Ky., but no house had been erected. At that 
time the Indians were very plentiful along Darby and seemed 
loath to leave their favorite "hunting grounds." 

James Ewing established the first store in Union County, 

2 



10 History of Jerome Toivnship 

at his farm in Jerome Township, and was appointed the first 
Postmaster. 

Soon after the Ewings arrived in Union County, other set- 
tlers followed, prominent among whom were the Taylors, Rob- 
insons, Mitchells, Kents, Currys, Cones, McCulloughs, Bucks, 
Provins. Notemans, McCunes. Sagers, Shovers, McClungs and 
Conners. Afterwards the Wises, McCampbells, Liggetts, Rob- 
insons, Beards, Woodburns, Hawns, McCrorys, Flecks, 
Ketches, Dodges, Gills, Gowans, McDowells' Foxes, Converses, 
Kahlers, Ruehlens, Dorts, Crottingers, Nonnemakers, Beaches, 
Colliers, Bishops, Hudsons, Kiles, Stones, Donaldsons, Patter- 
sons, McKittricks, Frys, Norris, Jackson, Laugheads, Evans, 
Stewart, Magill, Biggers, Moss, Rickards, Roneys, Adams, 
Herriotts, Hensels, Chapmans, Kilburys, Brinkerhoffs, Hagers, 
Morrisons, Wells, Dunboraws, Cooks, Arnolds, Channels, War- 
ners, Bethards, Cramers, Hills, Roberts, Greens, McCunes, 
Bowersmiths, Cases, Harringtons and Wagners, all of whom 
are among the older settlers of half a century ago. The ma- 
jority of the early settlers came from the colonies of Virginia, 
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and a few of them from the 
New England States. 

The large majority of these people were staunch Presbyte- 
rians and Seceders, the church now known as the United Pres- 
byterian Church. In fact, the settlers along Darby and Sugar 
Run were always known as strongly Presbyterian people, and 
at the present time the U. P. Society is still retained at New 
California. 

Many of the first settlers came from Revolutionary ances- 
tors, and a number of Revolutionary soldiers settled in Union 
County. Among others was Colonel James Curry, who received 
1,000 acres of land in part pay for his services as a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, which was for seven years as an officer of the 
Virginia Continental Line. Henry Shover, who settled in the 
township early in 1800, was also a soldier of the Revolution. 
Some of the land is still in the name of the Curry family. 

Jessie Mitchell, born November -Ith. ITDl), was the first 
white child born in Union County, and removed from Darby 



History of Jerome Township 11 

Township in 1823. He resided on the old Mitchell farm until 
he died, May 13th, 1881. He was a very highly esteemed and 
influential citizen, raised a large family, all of whom are de- 
ceased. A number of his descendants still reside in the town- 
ship, and some of the land is still in the Mitchell name. 

The citizens were strongly temperate, and it is a remarkable 
fact that there has never been a saloon within the territory of 
Jerome Township, although it has been settled for more than 
one hundred years. Another remarkable fact is that so far as 
is known, no one of the old settlers or their descendants has 
ever been convicted of a felony. Many of the old settlers were 
well educated and took an active part in establishing the com- 
mon school system in the county. 

THE LOG CABIN AND THE OLD FIREPLACE. 

This chapter is particularly for the boys and girls of today 
to give them a glimpse of the manner of living, and hardships 
which their grandfathers and grandmothers endured in the 
early days and well remembered by the older residents who 
survive. Sixty years ago, as some of the now oldest genera- 
tion of the township can remember, there were but few houses 
either of brick or frame in this section of the country. In fact 
many of the dwelling houses were erected of round, logs not 
even hewn, but in time the better class of dwellings were made 
of hewed logs nicely matched and the openings between the 
logs "daubed" with mud mixed with lime, whitewashed, and 
presented a very neat appearance. When a citizen had his logs 
cut, hewed, and hauled to the location of erection the neighbors 
were invited to the "raising" and they came with axes and all 
necessary tools on the day set. There was great strife among 
the ax-men to see who could "take up a corner" the neatest 
and most rapid and it was very dangerous work for an inex- 
perienced boy, but they were all anxious to try their hands, 
usually under the eyes of their fathers. There was also great 
rivalry in running the logs up to the workmen on skids by using 
long forked poles, and frequently one end of the log would be 
rushed so fast that the other end would fall and the workmen 



12 History of Jerome Township 

were sometimes injured by the falling timber. The house or 
stable, whichever it might be, was usually raised in one day and 
the ridgepole put on ready for the roof. The roof of clap- 
boards, split usually from oak timber, was kept in place by long 
weight-poles instead of by nails. 

It is well known to the older citizens, but may not be to 
many of the younger generation, the only way of heating the 
cabins or of cooking was by the old fireplace, about six feet 
wide, and many of the chimneys were made of sticks plastered 
with clay mortar on the inside. Cooking outfits were not very 
elaborate and usually consisted of an oven or two for baking 
corn pone, a skillet, an iron tea kettle, coffee pot and one or 
two small iron kettles and same number of large iron kettles 
for boiling hominy, making soap, and for washing clothes. The 
dishes were of the old blue pattern decorated with birds, ani- 
mals and flowers, which are now considered the proper style 
and are quite rare. Before these old fireplaces and on the 
iron cranes that swung the kettles the good old mothers of the 
pioneer days would prepare chicken and squirrel potpies with 
accompanying side dishes fit for a king. How many men who 
live in luxury today long for the corn pone, the pies and "pound 
cakes" that mother made. The first improvement in cooking 
before the day of stoves, was the tin reflector. It was about 
two and a half feet wide with open front and one foot deep 
with a shed-like top running out toward the fire at an angle of 
45 degrees, which reflected the heat from the fireplace to bread 
or cakes arranged on a tin or sheet-iron shelf raised six inches 
from the hearth on small iron legs, so that coals were placed 
under to heat below while the reflector heated above. The ad- 
vent of the reflector was considered a great advance in the 
convnience of cooking and baking and was used in the majority 
of families until cook stoves were introduced in the vicinity 
about sixty years ago. 

Nearly every cabin had a loom with spinning wheels for 
both wool and flax, and tiie linsey, Jeans and linen cloth was 
woven by the women in each household, cut out and made into 
garments for both men, women, boys and girls by the good 



History of Jerome Tozvnsliip 13 

mother and daughters. The loose wamus for men and boys 
was usually worn, and flannel dresses dyed by the same mother, 
using oak and walnut bark, and in these homespun dresses the 
girls were content, happy and pretty. 

The furniture was both scanty and plain. Solid wood 
chairs or benches with a split-bottom rocker for mother, a 
plain table used for all purposes, and a "dough chest" for meal, 
flour and cooking utensils. Then beds with thick and wide 
feather ticks of sufficient height to require a step ladder, with 
a "trundle bed" under for the children, a bookcase, clock with 
wooden wheels, was about the usual outfit of the average fam- 
ily. No, do not forget the trusty rifle, bullet pouch and powder 
horn which always hung over the door. 

HUNTING AND TRAPPING. 

All kinds of small game was plentiful in this vicinity until 
the breaking out of the Civil War. It was common amusement 
to go out in the nearby woods on almost any farm and kill a 
"mess" of squirrels before breakfast or after supper in the 
summer season. When corn was planted the squirrels and 
chipmunks would commence digging it up near the side of the 
fields next to the woods and it was then the duty of the boys 
to "go the rounds" of the fields two or three times a day liam- 
mering on the fences with clubs and shouting to scare the game 
away, and some of the older men of today have devoted many 
an hour to this duty, skipping over the clods in bare feet and 
stubbing toes on stones or stumps. When roasting ears were in 
season the raccoons were very destructive and when the corn 
ripened wild turkeys visited the fields in great droves to get 
their share of the farmers' corn before it was husked. Every 
farmer had at least one deer or squirrel rifle, and hunting was 
not only great sport but was profitable as well. At least two 
hunting dogs were kept by each family and usually one 
was a "coon dog" or hound, and they were always anx- 
ious for the chase. In the late autumn months was the busy 
time for coon hunting with dogs as soon as the fur was good. 
Early in the evening the boys would start out with their torches 



14 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

of hickory bark, dogs whining, skipping and playing, happy in 
anticipation of the night's sport. A hound was not considered 
the best coon dog, as he barked on the track, warning the 
game, and it would have time to find a large tree, but a cur dog 
would follow the trail so quietly that he would be on the 
game, unawares, thereby compelling it to seek and climb 
the first tree. Both guns and axes were carried and when the 
coon was "treed" if he could not find a hole in which to liide 
and it was moonlight he could often be shot, otherwise the tree 
must be felled. The coon is pretty shrewd, and if not pushed 
too hard usually found a large tree. If the tree was large arid 
the game could not be seen to get a shot, coats were doffed in 
a jiffy and the chips were soon flying, the hunters taking turns 
at chopping. No tree was too large to tackle and sometimes 
they were the largest white oaks, which at this time, if sawed 
into finishing lumber, would be valued at a hundred dollars 
or more. The hunters seldom requested permission of the 
land owner to cut a tree, for if it was a good rail tree he would 
split it into rails, if no he did not care for it. When the tree 
was about ready to fall the boys, with clubs, and the dogs anx- 
ious for the fight, would form a circle in the woods out of 
danger in the direction the tree was to fall, ready for the 
chase. The coon would usually jump as the tree commenced 
falling, and when he was spied a grand rush would be made 
and the dogs would soon have him. A coon is a hard fighter 
and when tackled by a dog he turns on his back and fights 
with both teeth and claws. A dog not accustomed to such 
fighting is knocked out in the first round, but the old hunting 
dog gets him by the throat and never releases his hold until 
the game is dead. As coonskins were only worth from fifty 
to seventy-five cents each, hunting was not very profitable 
where this investment was divided between three or four boys, 
but the fun and excitement compensated fully for the financial 
shortage. In the northwest part of the township there was a 
great forest called the "Galloway Woods," owned by non- 
residents, uninhabited and uncultivated before the Civil War. 
This woods was full of wild game, deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, 



History of Jerome Township 15 

foxes, minks and squirrels. At times hunters from a distance 
would come with a pack of hounds and start the deer, while 
the hunters would follow on horseback. Many times some of 
us who survive can recall the baying of hounds, and if coming 
in our direction how we watched for the deer as they bounded 
through the woods with the pack close in pursuit, taking up the 
cry of the leader of the pack as they followed in a straight row 
eagerly chasing the timid frightened animals. It was very 
exciting ; and then came the hunters, guns over their shoulders, 
and horses on the gallop. Such a scene with the sweet music 
of the hounds impressed a boy so intensely that it is just as 
vivid as of yesterday, although three score years have passed. 
Wild turkeys were still to be found in droves of twenty-five 
or upwards, fifty years ago. Hunters would follow them 
carefully during the daytime, getting a shot now and then. 
About sundown the turkeys would begin to go to roost by 
flying into the branches of tall trees. The good hunter who 
understood the game would then, after marking carefully the 
location, leave the flock. If it was moonlight he would return 
at midnight or later when the moon was high, and bring down 
a few turkeys by shots from his trusty rifle, by getting the 
range so that the turkeys would be seen against the moon. 
Rifles were all muzzle loaders and the ramrod would extend 
to the end of the gun barrel. To the end of the ramrod the 
hunter would attach a glove or mitten so that it hung down 
three or four inches below the gun barrel when the gun was 
sighted, then the aim must be so the mitten or glove would drop 
just below the form of the turkey looking toward the moon, 
and fire. John Curry, who was the most noted and successful 
hunter in the vicinity, seldom missed a shot. As I go back in 
memory I can see him now mounted on his chestnut sorrel 
hunting horse, "Alex," as he dashed through my father's 
sugar camp in front of our home at full speed, leaning forward 
with rifle over his shoulder, on his way to the Galloway Woods 
on many a winter afternoon. About dusk he would return 
slowly with one or two large wild turkeys hanging from the 
pommell of his saddle. He had a great coon dog, "Old Ben," 



16 History of Jerome Township 

who was sure of his game and never failed treeing a few rac- 
coons and opossums every night he had the opportunity to 
"take the trail." Ben was the envy of every hunter and hunt- 
ing dog in the neighborhood. Among the other noted hunters 
may be named Sardius Ward, David McCune, the Hensils, 
and, in fact, the boys in almost every family. In the days be- 
fore the Civil War the hunting and shooting was all with rifles. 
A man or boy with a shotgun was ridiculed, as a boy fifteen 
or sixteen years of age was a good shot and could bring down 
a squirrel from the tallest oak tree with a rifle. There was a 
great deal of trapping of raccoon, minks, and other small 
game. Quails were caught in traps, a whole covey at once, and 
wild turkey were caught by building rail pens and tapering 
the pen off at the top, only leaving a small opening through 
which the turkey would fly down to the corn scattered inside 
the pen. Once inside the pen it was not possible to fly straight 
up to the escape and they were then easily caught by the trap- 
per. As there were no game laws in those days game of all 
kinds was shot any time in the year. When the township was 
first settled bear and wolves were plentiful and wolves' scalps 
brought $4 each after the county was organized. Colonel 
James Curry was a member of the legislature, representing the 
counties of Madison and Delaware in 1820, when the bill 
was passed for the erection of Union County, so called, as it 
was from territory of Franklin, Madison and Delaware, there- 
fore a union of counties. Hon. Job Rennick, a prominent citi- 
zen of Chillicothe, represented Ross County, and after the bill 
was passed he remarked to Colonel Curry facetiously that "he 
now had a county and all it was fit for was wolf traps." Could 
these grand old men who first settled the county and, by the 
labor and hardship they endured, blazed the way for civiliza- 
tion, visit Jerome Township with its fine macadamized roads, 
telephones and automobiles, what a revelation it would be to 
them. 

The last bear killed in Jerome Township was on the farm 
of James Buck, afterward owned by Perry Buck, and near the 
banks of Sugar Run. A wounded bear had been chased into 



History of Jerome Township 17 

the neighborhood by dogs and finally came to bay. A number 
of dogs were gathered up among the settlers and a great fight 
was soon in progress. Among the dogs were two or three 
bear dogs and they knew how to tackle the game by running 
in behind the bear and snapping at the heels and would then 
be out of reach before the bear could turn, keeping up this 
method of attack until the bear was completely tired out, and 
then the dogs could close in on him. In this pack of dogs two 
or three were not accustomed to bear-fighting and would rush 
in front of the animal and one stroke of his great paw would 
put them out of the fight. In this scrimmage one or two dogs 
were killed. 

Mr. James Buck, who was working in a corn field near, had 
his hoe in hand during the battle. He became very much in- 
censed at the rough usage of the dogs by the bear and signified 
his intention of attacking the bear in front with his hoe, but 
was warned by James Curry, who was an old bear hunter, that 
he had better keep off at a good distance, as the bear, although 
wounded, had good use of his forepaws and one stroke would 
be sufficient to put him out of the fight for good. After the 
dogs had fought for some time, and to the satisfaction of the 
onlookers as well, the animal was dispatched by a rifle shot. 
While the exact date is not known, it was soon after the war 
of 1812, and some of us have been shown the spot on a little 
hillside on the east bank of Sugar Run. 

Fox hunting was great sport and very exciting when the 
hunters were mounted. On the day set the hunters would as- 
semble at a time and place agreed upon with all hounds and 
hunting dogs that could be brought together in the neighbor- 
hood. Some of the old hunters would take the advance with 
the best dog and beat the brush in some locality where the 
game was likely to be sprung. If there was snow on the 
ground and it was soft and melting a track was soon struck 
and would often be followed by sight some distance until the 
scent would become warm before the dogs were allowed to take 
the trail. When they did start and were baying on the track 
it \vas sweet music to the hunters' ears and they were all off 



18 History of Jerome Township 

on the gallop, following the hounds through brush, over logs, 
streams and fences, in a wild race which frequently continued 
for hours. In some instances the fox would double on the 
track, dodge the pack, and run through the fields or pastures 
where there were sheep or cattle and by the time the trail was 
again found the game would be a mile or two away, heading 
for the Scioto River or Darby Creek, and often reaching a 
place of safety in a hole among the rocks. It was great sport 
and dangerous as well, leaping fences or ditches, but a few 
bruises were just a part of the game and were not taken into 
consideration by the hunter if he could only, by a wild and 
reckless ride, be in at the death. Some of the men who yet 
survive and have reached the milestone of three score and ten, 
can feel the flush of youth yet come to their cheeks as they 
go back in memory to the days when they followed the hounds 
more than half a century ago. 

In addition to the fox hunt, there was some horse racing 
without the hounds. There were no trotting races ,as that kind 
of sport was too tame for the boys of those days. The racing 
was just for sport and there was little betting. There was one 
track at Plain City, but on the Jerome Township side of the 
line running north, just west of where the flouring mill now 
stands. Another track was down on the bottom land near the 
creek, and just opposite and below the farms of Uncle Zack 
Noteman and Uncle Levi Taylor. 

On the Fourth of July or Saturday afternoons during the 
summer and fall months, the clans gathered for the sport and 
some swift runners were usually on the ground with their 
backers. The distance was usually a quarter or half-mile 
dash. The jockeying for advantage in the "go" was often 
long and sharply contested and at times resulted in a clash at 
the finish between the backers of the rival horses. 

On the Post Road toward Dublin, near the Tavern of Uncle 
Steve Lattimer, was another favorite race track. Here would 
gather the horsemen from Dublin, Pleasant Valley, and West 
Jeff^erson, frequently for an afternoon outing. The races 
would be fast and furious until toward evening, and usually 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 19 

the day's amusement wound up with an exhibition not on the 
program, participated in by such actors as Hen Davis, of Dub- 
lin, Abe Garabrant and Tom Gregg, of Jefferson, and some- 
times the Lattimers and Kilburys would take a hand just as 
peacemakers. When the racing was subsiding and the argu- 
ments commenced, we boys would climb to the top of the 
stake and rider fence to see the fun, as we could get a better 
view of the performance, and for another reason it was safer. 

In those days the actors were not governed strictly by 
Queensbury rules ; neither did they wear three-ounce gloves, 
and the rounds were not limited in number, although there was 
usually but one. That was in ante-bellum days, and after the 
Civil War Thompson Kilbury fitted up a fine circle half-mile 
track on his farm, where the horsemen had some very interest- 
ing meets. 

There were some fine bred running horses in the commu- 
nity, among which the Printer and Lexington stock were the 
favorites. Running races was the great sport of that period and 
it was very fascinating. Compared with the baseball and foot- 
ball of the present day, there are nine points out of ten in favor 
of the race horse. 

A boy must indulge in some kind of exciting exercise, and 
breaking colts or riding wild horses was the favorite sport of 
the country boy fifty years ago. W^hen a farmer boy arrived 
at the age of 16 or 17, he was given a colt by his father, and 
was next given a new saddle and bridle. He was as proud of 
his outfit as the boy of today who has a rubber-tired buggy or 
an automobile. 

There were many races along the soft, smooth dirt roads 
by these boys going and returning from town in the evenings, 
just for the fun and excitement and with no thought of betting. 
Among them were riders that would make a cowboy riding a 
bucking broncho green with envy. The racing on the Kilbury 
track, after the close of the Civil War, was conducted in a very 
quiet manner. No rowdying was allowed, and it was interest- 
ing, clean sport. At this time, the Cone boys, who had some 
fine horses, took an interest in this sport, as did the Careys, 



20 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Taylors, Millikins, McCanns, and Converses around Plain City, 
all of whom were great horse fanciers, as were their fathers 
before them. 

THE OLD LOG SCHOOLHOUSE. 

Until about the year 1852, when the select school building 
was erected at New California, the schoolhouses were all 
built of logs. The schoolhouse attended by the children in 
the vicinity of the village was located in the center of a great 
woods, about three-quarters of a mile northwest from New 
California, on the farm of Perry Buck. 

There was no cleared ground and the paths leading to the 
schoolhouse were marked by blazing the trees, and ran through 
the woods in many directions. The house was built of heavy 
logs, one room about thirty feet square, fitted with benches 
without any backs, and the desks consisted of long boards 
about a foot and a half wide, resting on wooden pins fastened 
into the logs by an inch and a half auger hole. Windows on 
three sides, and the front wall, with the one door in the cor- 
ner, was taken up by the blackboard. 

The house was heated by a long, heavy iron box stove. The 
children from at least twenty families attended this school, 
and in those days the families were not as small as they are 
today. I think it is safe to say that there were sixty scholars 
in the district, and it seems an impossibility, as we go back 
in memory today, to see how they could all be crowded into a 
room of that size. Still, we did go to school there and learned 
something — in fact, the writer and many others never at- 
tended any other district school. 

The district was in a radius, say commencing with the 
farm of James Robinson on the Watkins Road, now owned by 
Mr. Seigman, taking the McCampbells, Woodburns, Mitchells, 
Gills, Currys, Cones, Beards, Bucks, and Taylors on the Marys- 
ville Road. 

We had a lot of fun in winter, playing fox and hounds in 
the snow, running miles through the woods, choosing and hav- 
ing our snowball battles. Base, Black Man, Corner Ball, Town 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 21 

Ball, Anti-over, and two-ol'-cat and three-ol'-cat were the 
favorite games. The professional baseball of today was fash- 
ioned from the old town ball, played in the early days. The 
ball was made by unraveling old woolen stockings, winding 
the thread around a burnt cork, wetting it so that it would 
shrink and harden, and then covering it with sheepskin. There 
was a pitcher, a batter and a catcher. The other participants did 
some desultory outfield work and took their "turns" at places 
on the infield. Good pitching, batting, catching and running 
were all developed in town-ball playing, and there was plenty 
of material to draw from when professional baseball was first 
organized. 

Of other games and sports, there was running and jump- 
ing, wrestling, boxing, and now and then a real fight with 
knuckles, for there were clans and gangs in those days. In 
the summer time the boys would build play houses out of poles 
and cover them with green leaves and twigs for the girls, 
where they had their stores of May-apple blossoms or berries 
to exchange for Genseng or Snake-root, as that was the usual 
commodity in trade. 

There were spelling schools frequently when the good 
spellers from surrounding districts would come in for a contest, 
and the excitement would be up to fever heat as one by one the 
scholars went down on a hard word. The next week our best 
spellers would visit other schools, and so it would continue 
through the winter months. 

Among the early teachers of that school were Caroline 
Buck, Olive Gill, Maria Buck, Rev. I. N. Laughead, Jane 
Porter, Polly Snodgrass, Emma Dodge, Eliza Gill, Sophia 
Dodge, Nan McCampbell, Lorinda Wilkins, Dr. D. W. Hen- 
derson, Elijah Brown, Charles Green, George Thompson, 
Milton Roney, and perhaps others whose names I do not now 
recall. 

On Friday afternoons there were declamations by the boys 
and compositions by the girls. Parents would come in and 
we had a great time doing examples on the blackboard, parsing 
grammar lessons, and spelling. 



22 History of Jerome Township 

The teachers did not spare the rod, but used it on all occa- 
sions, if in his or her opinion it was necessary. It did a boy a 
lot of good to have the teacher send him out to get a switch 
to whip a boy he did not like very well. I have a very distinct 
recollection of a boy getting a good whipping for inducing a lit- 
tle fellow to eat a piece of Indian Turnip, with the result that 
it burned his mouth seriously. But the greatest disgrace of 
all was to be "kept in" at recess or after school for some infrac- 
tion of the rules. 

In writing lessons, we used quill pens, and it was a part of 
the duty of the teacher to make and repair all pens. In the 
old First Reader in use those days, there was a picture of a cow 
in a pond. In one of our Friday afternoon exercises I remem- 
ber of a boy getting up and reciting a verse about the cow 
which was as follows : 

" The cow is in the pond. 
The cow gives us milk. 
\\t must not hurt the cow." 

That was all he said, and sat down well satisfied with his 
effort. The boys used to tease him about it until he was a 
young man. He was a fine young man, and has passed to his 
reward. 

For a number of years the township elections were held 
in this old log schoolhouse. At these elections many of the 
voters would spend the entire day at the voting place, and the 
discussions on political questions between the Whigs and Dem- 
ocrats were often very warm and loud. A club of the "Know- 
Nothing Party," as it was called, was organized here, a poli- 
tical party opposed to foreigners voting as soon as they set foot 
on our shores, and was largely recruited from the Whig party. 
It was only in existence a few years when members of that 
party and W^hig party organized the Republican party. The 
"Know-Nothing Party" was a secret organization and an 
amusing story is told about the organization in the old Log 
Schoolhouse. 

The meetings were held there as it was out in the woods, 
and thought to be a safe place. One night some of the boys 



History of Jerome Township 23 

of the neighborhood were going home from the village by the 
path that passed the schoolhouse, and spied a man lurking 
in the shadows near the door, and heard some discussions in- 
side the room. Approaching the outer guard, which he proved 
to be, and a young voter, they were informed that the parties 
on the inside were making "Sugar Wax," and could not be 
disturbed, as it was a select party. In a few days it leaked 
out that it was a meeting of the "Know-Nothing Party," and 
the people of the village were all agog with curiosity. The 
young man on guard proved to be David O. Taylor, who was 
afterwards killed in battle during the Civil War. 

The merchant of the village of California at that time, was a 
man by the name of John Robinson, and he had quite a reputa- 
tion for composing doggerel rhymes hitting on local events. 
When he heard of this incident, he composed a rhyme, one 
verse of which is recalled : 

" The boys went out the Know-Nothings to find. 
The old log schoolhouse they crawled up behind. 
As Stephen stood there looking in through the cracks. 
The Know-Nothings run with their syrup and wax." 
The Stephen referred to in that classic poem was Stephen 
Cone, who was one of the party of boys. 

BARRING THE TEACHER OUT. 

In those days, it was the custom in many of the schools to 
"bar the teachers out" on New Year's morning, and keep them 
out until they capitulated by agreeing to treat all of the 
scholars, usually with candy and raisins, as apples and nuts 
were plentiful and were no rarity for the scholars. New 
Year's morning some of the older boys would be at the school- 
house by daybreak, and one of the favorite ways of barring 
the door, as there were no locks, was to cut down a sapling 
from the woods near by, about six inches in diameter, put the 
pole in through a rear window, then cut it off so it would reach 
from the floor at the rear wall, to the top of the door and there 
brace it solid. Nail down all the windows but one, which was 
left so the scholars could be lifted in as they arrived. A fire 



24 History of Jerome Township 

was started in the stove and a sufficient amount of wood car- 
ried in to last through the siege, which would sometimes con- 
tinue for half a day. The scholars would arrive early, and by 
the time the teacher arrived all would be ready for the parley, 
which was generally conducted by the "big boys." Some of 
the teachers would take it good naturedly, accept the terms dic- 
tated, and surrender at once. In that case, the door would 
be opened and a couple of boys would be dispatched to the 
village for the treat. 

Other teachers would become indignant and at first refuse 
a conference, and even attempt to smoke the scholars out by 
climbing up on the roof and covering the chimney with a board. 
In one instance recalled, sulphur was dropped down the chim- 
ney, but the scholars were prepared for such an emergency by 
having a bucket of water and the fire in the stove was soon 
put out. Ultimately the teachers came to terms, and all went 
merry and frequently a half holiday was proclaimed. It was 
a lot of fun and usually ended in a convivial time for all. 

Sleigh riding and skating were the great winter sports. In 
those days before the streams were ditched, and the trees and 
bushes were growing along the banks, when the January fresh- 
ets came the water would not rush in such a torrent. By rea- 
son of the logs, drifts and fences, the water would spread out 
over the low pasture grounds and meadows, and when it would 
freeze there would be acres of ice. 

In the evenings the boys would congregate by the dozen 
build great fires along the banks, play shinney and other 
games, often until midnight. 

The thick woods along the narrow roads would protect 
the snow and it was not unusual to have five or six weeks of 
good sleighing, which was enjoyed by both old and young in 
sleighing parties and attending singing schol. 

MILLING AND OTHER EARLY INDUSTRIES IN 

JEROME TOWNSHIP. 

The first mill erected in the township was by Frederick 

Sager, who settled on Darby Creek in the early years of JSOO. 

Before this mill was erected, the settlers had to use a pestle 




WILLIAM B. LAUGHEAD 

96TH O V. I 



History of Jerome Township 25 

and stone mortar, the same as those in use by the Indians. In 
this manner they would mash the corn and make coarse meal 
and hominy. At intervals they would place a wooden pack- 
saddle on the back of a strong horse and load it up with 
sacks of shelled corn. The pioneer would mount his hunting 
horse and start on a long and tedious journey to Lancaster 
or Chillicothe, followed by the packhorse. This trip would 
consume several days and his return was anxiously awaited by 
the family and neighbors, as he would not only bring the prec- 
ious meal, but the capacious leather saddle bags would be filled 
to full capacity with newspapers and other reading matter, 
which would be liberally distributed among the settlers. 

The site of the old mill erected by Frederick Sager is just 
above the bridge on the California and Plain City Road, on 
the east bank near the farm of Samuel H. Ruehlen. The dam 
was built of logs and brush and this work was very largely 
done through the volunteer assistance of the settlers. The 
building was erected in the same manner, as they were all 
intensely interested in this new enterprise. 

The first burrs for this mill were chiseled out of a boulder 
that Mr. Sager found on the farm of John Taylor. After 
weeks of tedious work the boulder was split open and the 
stone dressed ready for use. As soon as the mill was in run- 
ning order, there was a great rush by the pioneers and also 
by the Indians, and they came both on foot and horseback 
from many miles around with their sacks of corn. 

For a few years he only ground corn, but there was soon a 
demand for flour, as the farmers began to raise wheat, and 
he installed a flouring bolt. For many years the bolting was 
done by hand. During the dry season the mill could run but 
little, as there was not sufficient water, but when the creek 
was not frozen in the winter and spring months, it was a 
very busy place, as farmers came with their grain from great 
distances, and when the water power was sufficient the mill 
ran day and night. 

Mr. Sager also erected the first sawmill in the township, 
attached to his grist mill and run by the same water, thus fur- 

3 



26 History of Jerome Township 

nishing the first boards and sawed lumber used in the cabins. 
Before that date the floors and doors were made of puncheons 
spHt out of timber and smoothed by a drawing knife and adz. 
Mr. F. Heminway finally purchased this mill and it bore the 
name of the "Heminway Mill" for many years and until it was 
finally abandoned for want of water power. 

The Kahler boys erected a sawmill along in the fifties on 
Robinsons Run, just above the bridge on the Plain City and 
California Road, which was run by water power and was the 
last mill in the township run by water. They also erected a 
grist mill near the same site run by steam power, which they 
operated successfully for a number of years. 

The above described are the only grist mills that were ever 
erected in the township, although some of the sawmills have 
had burrs attached for grinding corn. 

Many times a boy sent to the mill horseback on a sack of 
corn would have to wait all day for his grist. If the fishing 
was good he did not object, as he always took his hook and 
line along. The miller did not exchange meal and flour for 
corn and wheat, as was the custom in later years, but took toll 
out of the grain — he did not have facilities for weighing the 
grain and generally took the farmer's word for the amount, 
that the proper toll could be taken out for grinding. 

An anecdote is related of one shrewd farmer who usually 
tried to get the best part of a bargain with his neighbors. 
Like the Irishman, he thought it was better to "Chate than to 
be chated." The story is told that he went to the mill one time 
with his grain and informed the miller that he had two bushels 
and a half in his sack. After the toll was taken out, he winked 
at one of his neighbors and said that he had "two bushels and 
a half and a peck and a toll dish full." The miller having 
taken out a toll dish, the sly old farmer got one peck ground 
free. 

A doggerel poem written by a wag was set to music and sung 
with much glee by the old pioneers at some of their convivial 
gatherings. 



History of Jerome TozvnsJiip 27 

THE OLD MILLER'S WILL. 

"There was an old man lived all alone, 
He had three sons, big men grown, 
And he was about to make his will 
All he had was a wet weather mill. 

Chorus : 

To my hi fal lal, diadle I da 

He called unto his youngest son. 
Say son, O ! son, my life is run, 
And if I to you the mill do make. 

Pray what is the toll you intend to take? 

First Son — 

Dad, O ! Dad. my name is Breck 

And out of a bushel I'll take a peck ; 
And if a fortune I can make, 

That is the toll I intend to take. 

You ain't the boy, the old man said. 

You ain't the boy that's learned my trade 

And unto you the mill I won't give, 
For by such toll, no man can live. 

Second Son — 

Dad, O ! Dad, my name is Ralph, 

And out of a bushel I'll take half; 
If a fortune I can make 

That is the toll that I will take. 

Third Son — 

Father, Father, my name is Paul, 

And out of a bushel. I'll take all; 
If a fortune I do lack, 

Will keep the toll and swear to the sack. 



28 History of Jerome Township 

You are the boy, the old miller said, 
You are the boy that's learned my trade, 
Unto you the mill I give, 
For by such toll a miller can live. 

The old lady throwed up her hands and cried. 
The old miller rolled up his eyes and died ; 
He died, and died without a vs^ill 
And the old lady got the mill 

To my hi fal lal, diadle I da." 

POTTERIES. 

Isaac Mason started the first pottery in Jerome Township. 
His little plant was located on the old Sager farm, on the east 
bank of Darby Creek, afterward known as the T. T. Kilbury 
farm, which he operated for a number of years. 

TANNERIES. 

In the early days the tanning business was quite extensively 
carried on in the township. William McCune operated a tan 
yard for many years, just over the line in the township, near 
Plain City. In those days, in the spring when the sap was 
coming up, many large white oak trees were cut down and 
the bark peeled for tanning purposes, and it was always a ready 
sale on the market. Unless the trees were needed for rail 
timber, they were frequently allowed to rot. 

The tan yard of Asa Converse, located on his farm just 
west of the David Moss farm on the California and Union- 
ville Road, was perhaps the most extensive tannery of those 
days. In addition to the tanning business, he ran a boot and 
shoe manufacturing and repair shop. He employed a number 
of shoemakers during the winter season, and did quite a large 
and profitable business. 

Mr. Arthur Collier for a number of years carried on the 
tanning business in Jerome. The country tan yard was so 
convenient for farmers in either selling hides or having them 



History of Jerome Toivnship 29 

tanned for their own use, but is now a business of the past and 
of which the younger generation has little knowledge, as it is 
largely concentrated in the cities. 

ASHERIES. 

Asheries for the manufacture of black salts and sometimes 
saleratus, were quite common. The proprietors had wagons 
running all over the country buying up the ashes saved by the 
housewives or by the boys in the springtime when burning logs 
in the clearing, and it was quite a source of revenue. 

Kibourne and Amos Beach operated quite an extensive 
ashery in the village of Jerome for many years. Peter Beaver 
was also engaged in that business at New California, but these 
industries are all abandoned, although in the early days the 
business was quite profitable. 

COOPERAGE. 

The manufacture of barrels was engaged in quite exten- 
sively in the township by a number of citizens. The McCamp- 
bell brothers, John, Joseph, Andrew and Charles, were all 
coopers by trade, and engaged in that business on their farms 
during the winter season. Robert B. Curry, John Oliver, 
James and William Woodburn were also engaged in that line. 
They made suger barrels, flour barrels and pork barrels, many 
of which were disposed of in the neighborhood, but the bulk of 
them were hauled to Columbus. They had great high racks on 
heavy wagons which were used to transport the barrels to 
market, and merchandise of all kinds was brought back in re- 
turn. The loads were immense, and while I have no definite 
knowledge as to the number of flour barrels that could be 
loaded in one of those wagons, it seems to me that fifty would 
be a safe guess. 

Tradesmen of all kinds were in the country, and there was 
scarcely a farmer's family that did not have some member who 
could do mechanical work, either as shoemaker, harness maker 
or a wood worker. Nelson Cone was, perhaps, the best all- 
round mechanic along Sugar Run. He manufactured boots 
and shoes, harness and saddles. He was also a wood worker 



30 History of Jerome Township 

and made sleds, ox yokes, plow stocks and all kinds of farm 
implements. 

Among the shoemakers were Perry Buck, the Fleck boys, 
David Beard, and some of the Germans, a Mr. Myers and 
others. George Ruehlen, who arrived in Jerome Township 
direct from Germany, along in the fifties, was an expert work- 
man and erected the first up-to-date cider mill and press in the 
township. He also operated a sawmill for a number of years. 

Nearly every farmer had a good set of tools and made 
and repaired all kinds of farm implements himself, instead of 
running to town and to the shop of a carpenter or blacksmith 
every time it was necessary to have a nail driven or a board 
sawed. They were especially expert in the manufacture of 
ax handles out of tough hickory timber, so much in use those 
days. 

The fathers always took a great deal of pains to instruct 
their boys in the use and care of tools. There was one kind 
of work along this line that did not appeal to the farmer boy 
particularly, and that was filing a cross-cut saw. He was well 
aware that getting the old saw out, in company with a rat-tail 
file, meant hard work as soon as the saw was sharpened. 

If there was one kind of labor harder than any other on a 
farm, it was for a boy to tackle a saw log about four feet in 
diameter with a cross-cut saw, for the other fellow was sure 
to "lay down" on the saw. Did you ever, my old farmer boy 
friend — now three score and ten — ever know it to be other- 
wise? I think not. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND SINGING SCHOOL. 

Before the days of the Civil War, the young people residing 
along Darby Creek and Sugar Run were noted far and near 
for musical talent, both vocal and instrumental. Every winter 
singing schools and literary societies furnished the principal 
entertainments for all, old and young. 

These entertainments were held in the schoolhouses in the 
neighborhood and on special occasions, such as concerts or 
literary exhibitions at the close of the schools, they were held 



History of Jerome Township 31 

in the old Seceder Church at New California, or one of the 
churches at Jerome. 

Until about the year 1850, the old square or "buckwheat" 
notes were used in the music books. The first singing book 
that used the round notes was the Carmina Sacra, and the 
first teacher was a Mr. Maynard. Then came a Mr. Dixon, 
Pinney Case of Jerome, Mr. Moulton of Boston, Wm. M. 
Robinson of Marysville, Sireno B. Phipps of Columbus, Sam- 
uel Robinson of Darby Township, and Nelson Cone. In later 
years James Curry, now a Presbyterian minister of Newark, 
California, taught a few terms. 

After the regular terms of the singing schools closed with 
a day concert in the spring, the teachers would insist that 
the young people keep up the practice during the spring and 
summer months. These practices were held in the evenings 
and Dan Cone, James Curry, and David G. Robinson were 
usually the leaders, standing up in front, giving the key with 
a tuning fork, and beating time. 

There was great rivalry between the choruses of Jerome 
and Darby Townships, and there were many concerts and 
musical contests. In the summer of 1860, the singers of 
Jerome, Darby and Milford Center held an all-day concert 
in the grove on the farm of Michael Sager at Unionville. A 
number of the music teachers were present in the interest of 
their favorites, and considerable feeling was displayed by the 
different factions — each chorus claiming the laurels. 

Of soprano and alto singers who were prominent in musical 
aflFairs in those days, and still residing in the vicinity, only the 
names of Amanda McCampbell Comstock, Phebe Curry Wil- 
liams, Susannah Robinson McKittrick, Mary Curry Gill, 
Nancy Bain Curry, and Jennie Taylor Carson are recalled, and 
of the young men tenor and bass, not one. The Robinsons, 
Gowans, Cones, Liggetts, Dodges, Woodburns, McCampbells, 
Laugheads, Mitchells, Gills, Currys, Flecks, Beards and Bucks 
are all gone, and but few of that generation survive. 

There were few pianos and organs, but violins, flutes, and 
violin-cellos were the principal musical instruments. Some of 



32 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

the young people were quite talented, and of the Cone family 
of seven boys, all were violinists. 

No public dances were held, but when the young people 
would meet in the evenings, even at the house of a strict Meth- 
odist or Presbyterian, they would indulge in a little social 
dance — a cotillion, swinging eight, Virginia Reel, or French 
four, with a jig dance by a few of the boys to the old tune of 
"Money Musk." 

Then there was the apple cuttings, which closed at 9 o'clock 
sharp, after all the tubs, jars and crocks had been filled with 
apples, pared, cored and quartered, ready to be strung on 
cotton cord two or three yards in length and hung to the joists 
above the fireplace to dry. There was no canned fruit, and 
the apples and peaches were dried around the open fireplaces 
or on kilns. The kilns were usually made in the orchard by 
digging a trench a foot deep, a yard wide, and two or three 
yards long. This trench was arched over with brick, and at 
one end a chimney several feet in height was erected. The 
brick over the trench was then given a thick coat of clay mor- 
tar, smoothed down carefully, and soon dried ready for use by 
building a fire in the kiln. Newspapers or a cloth was spread 
over the kiln to keep the fruit clean when it was put in, and 
in this manner apples and peaches were dried for winter use. 

When the apples were all pared and cut at these evening 
gatherings, the floors without carpets were swept up, refresh- 
ments were served, and the evening festivities commenced. The 
old plays were "Snap Up." March to Quebec," and many 
others. Some of the older persons will recall the old song as 
the boys and girls would march around the room by couples. 

" We're all marching to Quebec 

W'here the drums are loudly beating. 
The Americans have gained the day 

And the British are retreating ; 
The War's all o'er and we'll turn back 

To the place where first we started, 
We'll open the ring and choose a couple in. 

To relieve the broken-hearted." 



History of Jerome Township 33 

When a boy or girl was "out" they were assessed a pawn 
which was usually a handkerchief or a knife. To redeem it 
the penalty was not very severe, sometimes being a mock- 
marriage to your sweetheart. Some boy or girl would be blind- 
folded and the prosecutor would hold the pawn to be redeemed 
over the head of the judge, saying, "Heavy, heavy hangs over 
your head." The judge questioning, "Fine or superfine ?" — fine 
if it is a boy and superfine if a girl ; then the penalty was pro- 
nounced by the judge. When the company was congenial both 
boys and girls were pleased to be assessed some penalty for 
the pleasure of redeeming. 

There were wood choppings and the young men of the neigh- 
borhood would gather at some farmer's home, especially when 
the father or some of the boys were sick, but frequently just 
for a visit, chop wood and haul it to the home in long lengths, 
working all day, and a sufficient amount of wood would be 
chopped to last for many weeks. On the same day, the girls 
would assemble at the house and have a quilting party. In 
the evening a great supper would be spread and all would be 
merry with songs and plays until the "wee small hours." 

Corn huskings were also evenings of amusement and help- 
fulness among the farmers. There was always some strife 
among the boys to see who could find the largest number of 
red ears, as every red ear found entitled him to kiss his best 
girl. It would even be intimated that a girl would quietly pass 
a red ear to the right boy, or if a boy had any doubts about 
finding one, he would place an ear of the right color in a con- 
venient pocket before he started to the "husking bee." 

The debating societies furnished entertainment and amuse- 
ment for many winter evenings at the schoolhouses. These 
debates were participated in by many of the old settlers who 
were well versed in current events and were good historians 
as well. In fact, it may well be doubted if the average citizen 
of today is as well versed in the early history of the Republic 
as the pioneers of fifty years ago, and these debates were 
usually quite interesting. 

The best class of farmers usually took two or three weekly 



34 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

newspapers, one of which was a church paper, and it is recalled 
that the favorite one was, especially among the Presbyterians, 
"The Watchman of the Valley," published in Cincinnati. "The 
Dollar Newspaper," published in Philadelphia, was also a fa- 
vorite among the farmers, as in addition to all the current news, 
a continued story by one of the good writers was published, 
some of which continued for months. 

There were no dailies outside of the cities, and the arrival 
of the weeklies in the Saturday's mail was hailed with great 
interest. 

The writings of some of the standard prose writers and 
poets were in every household, including Shakespeare. Byron, 
Burns, Shelley, Scott, Young's Night Tohughts, Josephus, 
Rollins, and many standard histories. The Bible and hymn 
book was always on the stand in the living room, and they 
were both used every day. 

CHURCHES. 

"Lower Liberty Presbyterian Church" was organized about 
the year 1807 near Plain City. Services were first held in pri- 
vate houses, then in a schoolhouse on the lot where the first 
church building was erected. Among the first members were 
the Ewings, Mitchells, Chapmans, Taylors, Gills, Wingets, 
Currys, Robinsons and Bucks. 

Rev. Samuel Wood was the first pastor, from 1808 to 1815. 
He was succeeded by the following named ministers : Rev. Wm. 
Dickey, Archibald Steele, James Hoge, D. D., Elder Hughes 
and Cable, until 1821, and Rev. James Robinson from that date 
until 1828, followed by Rev. Davis C. Allen until 1831. Rev. 
James Dolbear served from 1831 to 1838 and Rev. Wm. Gal- 
breath from 1839 to 1848. 

In 1837 the denomination was divided into the old school 
and new school. Rev. Benjamin D. Evans. Rev. Henry Shedd, 
Rev. Kuhn. Rev. Uhlf elder afterward supplied the pulpit until 
1853, when the society was disorganized and church building 
abandoned. 

The first church building of this society was erected about 



History of Jerome Township 35 

1815-1816 on a plat of ground of about four acres, donated by 
Walter Dun, one mile west from Plain City on the Post Road, 
in the forks of the road running through the Ricard farm from 
the east and just across that road from the southeast corner 
of the old Ewing farm now owned by Harlan Wood. It was 
a large frame building, not plastered, no chimney, and no way 
of heating. Therefore, it would not be occupied in the winter 
season. There were two aisles, one running through the center 
lengthwise of the building and the other from side to side, 
crossing the main aisle. 

As in the old days the men sat on one side of the church 
and the women on the other. The seats were ordinary rough 
benches, supported by legs inserted through inch and a half 
auger holes. In the year 1836 a large red brick building was 
erected on the same site, in which services were held until 
about 1850. 

The pulpit was in the front of the church and as a person 
entered they faced the congregation. The platform of the 
pulpit was at least six feet high, and only the head and shoul- 
ders of the minister could be seen, as the front wall of the 
pulpit was so high. The seats all had high-board backs and a 
door next to the aisle had a button to it which was turned as 
soon as the children were all counted in. In those days fam- 
ilies all sat in the same seat and the seat of each family was 
well known. Strangers and transients were seated in the rear 
part of the church, unless invited to sit with some family. Sun- 
day school in the morning at 9:30, church at 11, two prayers 
and sermon an hour in length, then half hour "intermission" 
for dinner, carried in baskets, and it was a good diner, cold 
biscuits, cold pork or sausage, doughnuts, "pound cake," and 
mother's juicy gooseberry or currant pie an inch and a halt 
thick. And what appetites we had ! Then up to Uncle Jimmie 
Ewings, well for a drink out of the real "old oaken bucket," and 
a little visit, then back to the church for another long sermon. 

The music was not classical but there were many good 
voices and it was a real praise service. The singing was 
usually led by two of the Elders of the church. As there were 



36 History of Jerome Township 

not a sufficient number of hymn books for the congregation, 
the two leaders would stand up in front of the pulpit and 
"line out" two lines of the hymn, then leading the singing. 
Jesse Gill and James Robinson were the two leaders for many 
years, finally Benjamin Fay, who played the flute and was 
quite a musician, organized a choir of the young people and 
I recall he would stand up and give the key with his flute. 
The music was greatly improved and enjoyed under his leader- 
ship. Mascal Ewing, who was educated for the ministry and 
was a fine scholar, would frequently read sermons to the con- 
gregation when they had no minister. The "Old Red Brick 
Church" drew great congregations and in the summer time the 
church would often be filled to overflowing, as the people 
would come for many miles, even as far as Milford Center 
and Fairview, now Ostrander, in wagons, horseback and on 
foot. When the young people would start home on their pranc- 
ing horses it would look like a troop of cavalry. The services 
usually lasted until 2 :0U o'clock. Not one of the members of 
that old congregation survives and of the young girls who 
sang in the choir I recall but two who are living, Jane Curry 
Randall, of Plain City, and Susannah Robinson McKitrick, 
residing near New California, and of the young men not one. 
Of the ruling elders I recall the names of James Ewing, T. 
M. Ewing, John Taylor, Jessie Gill, James Robinson, Stephen- 
son Curry, David Chapman. Abner Chapman. The old church 
building, after the congregation was disorganized, was aban- 
doned to the birds and bats, the windows knocked out, the yard 
grown up in weeds and bushes, and so it remained until after 
the close of the Civil War. In the year 1870 it was torn down 
and the brick was hauled to Plain City and used in the erec- 
tion of a Presbyterian church on the site now occupied by the 
Commodius Church, to which it gave way a few years ago. 
When that church was erected I was secretary of the building 
committee and Rev. Wm. H. Galbreath. who was pastor in 
the old church in 1839, preached the dedicatory sermon. The 
organizers of the old church were a God-fearing people and 
while the good old fathers and mothers have gone to their re- 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 37 

wards, their seed was sown on fertile ground and has borne 
good fruit, as evidenced by the fact that many of their descen- 
dants are still zealous workers in the vineyard of the good old 
Presbyterian Church at Plain City and other churches. Some 
of the descendants of this congregation became ministers of 
the Presbyterian Church, among whom may be named David 
G. Robinson, son of James Robinson, and James Curry, son 
of Stepenson Curry, who has been a prominent minister in the 
state of California for thirty-seven years and is now located 
at Newark in that state. David G. Robinson died about the 
year 1872-73. 

THE OLD SECEDER CHURCH, NEW CALIFORNIA. 

The Seceder Church, now the United Presbyterian Church, 
was organized at New California between the years 1835 and 
1840. The society was organized by the McCampbells and the 
Beards, who emigrated from Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 
1835, and soon after came the Liggetts. The McCampbells and 
Beards were connected with the Associate Church of Ebenzer 
and Timber Ridge congregation, Virginia, before coming to 
Ohio. 

Services were first held at the residence of Wm. McCamp- 
bell, Sr., and then in the cooper shop of John McCampbell. 

Rev. James Wallace organized the congregation and the 
first rulings elders ordained and installed were Wm. Bigger 
and David Beard, with about thirty members. 

Rev. Robert Forester, who resided at Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 
supplied the church the first two years. 

Rev. I. N. Laughead was the first pastor installed. He be- 
came pastor in April, 1843, and so continued until April, 1864. 
He was also pastor of the U. P. Church at Unionville Center 
for the same period. He stated in a letter at one time that 
his salary at first was $300 per year and never was above $400. 
Rev. Laughead was also a farmer during his pastorate here 
and had one of the best improved farms in the neighborhood. 
He was quite successful as a manager and accumulated con- 



38 History of Jerome Township 

siderable property, although it was not by reason of the 
meager salary he received as a minister. 

He also taught school in the winter season and some of 
the older persons residing now in the community were his 
pupils. He was a devoted Christian and enterprising citizen, 
and gave the best of his life ministering to his congregation, 
composed of earnest. God-fearing people. 

Mrs. Laughead was a woman of intelligence, devoted to the 
interest of the congregation, and reared an interesting family. 
The oldest son, William Bradford, died in the army during the 
Civil War and the only daughter, Elizabeth, now Mrs. J. H. 
Young, resides in Pasadena, California, and two sons, James 
and Leander, reside in Iowa. 

In the spring of 1865 Rev. Laughead and family removed 
to Washington, Iowa, where he and his good wife were laid to 
rest several years ago. The first church building erected by 
the congregation was of logs about the year 1841. The ceiling 
was very low and some of the benches used as seats did not 
have any backs. When the minister was in the pulpit his head 
reached almost to the joists, which were heavy enough for a 
railroad bridge. The congregation worshiped in this building 
until 1852, when the old frame building now used as a town- 
ship house was erected on the same site now occupied by the 
church building erected in 1904. 

Of the old families who were members of this great congre- 
gation may be named McCampbells. Liggetts, Beards, Robin- 
sons, Mitchells, Woodburns, Gowans, McDowells, Biggers, 
McCrorys, Taylors, McCulloughs, and Bains 

I do not recall but one of that old generation who organized 
the church seventy-eight years ago who survives — Martha 
Robinson Beard, widow of Andrew Beard, now living with her 
daughter, Martha Williams, in Cleveland, Ohio. But few of the 
younger generation reside in Jerome Township, and of the 
McCampbells, Amanda Comstock and Dell McCampbell, and 
of the McDowells, Porter and Leander ; the Liggetts, Mrs. 
Clement Evans ; the Taylors, Mrs. S. H. Carson. 

Rev. James A. Taylor succeeded Rev. Laughead in April, 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 39 

1865, to November 19th, 1867. From that date until Rev. John 
Gilmore was installed September 12th, 1871, there was no reg- 
ular pastor. He was followed by Rev. D. M. Gordon in Janu- 
ary, 1875, and Rev. Ebenezer E. Cleland succeeded in April, 
1878, to September, 1895. Rev. B. E. Dobbins, September, 
1897, to April, 1902. Rev. R. C. Finney, July, 1903, to August, 
1909. Rev. E. H. Thompson, the present pastor, July, 1911. 

The good influence of this congregation in the community 
for three-quarters of a century has not only been for the spirit- 
ual welfare of its membership, but for the spiritual and moral 
welfare of all the people. While at this time the membership 
is greatly reduced as compared with that of fifty years ago, yet 
their influence for all that is good in society and the high 
regard and reverence that still obtains for the Sabbath day 
and the ceremonies of the church is all in the interest of good 
citizenship. If we had more such churches in our country 
there would not be need for so many prisons. 

In the early days, soon after the select schoolhouse was 
erected, a class was organized by the Methodist denomination. 
Rev. Merrill, who afterward became a distinguished Bishop 
in that church and an eloquent speaker, was the first minister. 
Nelson Cone, Judah Dodge (who was an exhorter in the 
church for many years), James B. Dort, John Ruehlen, John 
Nonnemaker, James Ketch, and a number of the other old 
families were active members of the church. Services were 
held in the Select School building or township house, at Cali- 
fornia. 

A Sunday School was organized and flourished with a 
good attendance for a number of years. In time some of the 
active members died and others affiliated with churches at 
Plain City or Jerome, and the organization was abandoned. 

About the year 1854 a number of German families, includ- 
ing the Kimberlies, Ruehlens, Housers. Myers. Masts and 
others, came direct from the Fatherland and settled in the 
vicinity. They held services frequently in the township 
house, but did not have any regular minister. Many of the 
young people of the neighborhood attended these meetings, 



40 History of Jerome Totvnship 

and while they could not understand the sermon, they enjoyed 
the singing, as there were some splendid voices among these 
good German people. 

When the U. P. Church was at the zenith of its prosperity 
they had great congregations. They came in wagons, buggies, 
on horseback and a-foot, and from the number of horses 
hitched to the trees in the woods near the church it resembled 
a Camp Meeting or County Fair. Like the services in the old 
Red Brick Presbyterian Church near Plain City, they con- 
tinued all day, with two sermons and a half hour for lunch. 
The singing was usually led by Moderwell and Hunter Robin- 
son, by reading two lines of the Psalm, then leading in the 
singing. 

PLAIN CITY. 

The population of Plain City at this time is about 1,500, 
and of that number 400 reside in Jerome Township. The 
flouring mill, owned and operated by U. D. Beard, is located 
on the west bank of Darby Creek in Jerome Township. The 
mill was erected by Dr. W. I. Ballinger and Richard Woodruff 
in 1873, and has always done a good business, handling a 
large amount of grain. 

The Plain City M. E. Church is located in Jerome Town- 
ship. The church building is beautiful and commodious, the 
congregation numbering about 500, with a large and flourish- 
ing Sunday School. The Church Society of Pleasant Valley 
was organized in the cabin of Andrew Noteman about the 
year 1812, and has been in existence continuously, the major- 
ity of the congregation residing in Madison County. Rev. 
S. A. Stephan is the minister in charge at this time. 

Pastime Park, joining the village on the north, is located 
on the old farm owned in the early days by William McCune, 
who also operated quite an extensive tannery. The park con- 
tains 27 acres of ground, and has a fine race-track for matinee 
races and training horses. The grove of natural forest trees 
is beautiful, and a great pleasure resort. Chautauqua meet- 
ings are held in the park every year. The "City of Tents" 




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History of Jerome Township 41 

during these meetings is quite large and the attendance is 
numbered by thousands. 

Many picnics and Fourth of July celebrations were held on 
these grounds before the Civil War. Some of the older citi- 
zens recall these celebrations held every year in Pleasant V^al- 
ley, and in those days the meetings were patriotic indeed. 
Usually one good speaker, the reading of the Declaration of 
Independence, a few patriotic songs, music by a good martial 
band, made a day of real enjoyment. Long tables were 
erected, filled with the substantial "fat of the land," and a free 
dinner for all. 

In the year 1833 Otway Curry, who resided in a log house 
on the exact spot where now stands the residence of Charles 
M. Jones, composed a poem especially for the Fourth of July 
celebration. It was set to the music of Pleyel's Hymn Sec- 
ond, and sung July 4th, 1833, in Bigelow's Grove, Pleasant 
Valley, under the leadership of Nelson Cone. The poem will 
be herewith published as a part of the early history of Pleas- 
ant Valley, frequently referred to by the newspapers of today. 

"God of the high and boundless heaven, 

We call upon Thy name; 
We tread the soil that Thou hast given 

To Freedom and to fame. 
Around us on the ocean waves 

Our starry banners sweep, 
Around us in their lowly graves 

Our patriot fathers sleep. 

With fearless hearts and stalwart hands 

They bore the eagle high 
O'er serried arms and battle brands 

Careering in the sky ; 
For Freedom, in her darkest day, 

Their life-blood bathed the plain; 
Their mouldering tombs shall pass away, 

Their glory shall remain. 



42 History of Jerome Township 

God of the Free, Thy children bless, 

With joy their labor crown; 
Let their domain be limitless, 
And endless their renown. 
Proclaim the morn of Freedom's birth 

O'er every land and sea, 
Till her pure spirit fill the earth, 
Wide as the heavens are free." 
The farm which Mr. Charles M. Jones owns and on which 
he resides, adjoins Plain City on the north and was purchased 
by his father, Thomas Jones, in 1856, who was the first man 
to introduce Norman horses in this section of the State. He 
also dealt largely in thoroughbred cattle and Plain City became 
noted throughout the State for fine horses and cattle. 

Charles M. Jones, on his "Pleasant Valley Stock Farm" 
as it is still called, deals largely in horses and keeps up the 
reputation established by his father more than half a century 
ago as a breeder of fine stock. 

There are citizens yet living in the vicinity who can re- 
member the days when there were but two general stores in 
the village, George Hill, proprietor of one, and Joseph and 
Peter Guitner of the other, and "Old Dad Marshall" kept the 
grocery, where he dispensed ginger-snaps, blind-robbins, and 
red-striped peppermint candy. The merchants of the town 
at this time have a large and flourishing trade. Good churches, 
goods schools, and the citizens are progressive, prosperous, and 
happy. 

VILLAGE OF JEROME. 

The village of Jerome, also known as Beachtown, Pleasant 
Hill, and Frankfort, was platted in the year 1846 by William 
Irwin, County Surveyor, for Henry Beach, and the Beach fam- 
ily was the only family residing there. It is pleasantly situ- 
ated and in the early days was a thriving business town, but 
like other inland villages, while it is still a good business town, 
it has not increased greatly in population. The Beaches and 
the majority of the old inhabitants have passed away, but the 



History of Jerome Township 43 

village and vicinity have always been noted for good substan- 
tial citizenship, a thriving farming community, and the merch- 
ants do a good business in all lines, and at all times. 

The first merchants of the village were Amos and Kilburn 
Beach, and the first tavern keeper was William Case. Other 
merchants who have been prominent business men in the vil- 
lage are H. B. Seely, Lattimer & Hamilton, George Dixon, 
Oliver Asbury. The merchants now doing business are 
Daniel Landecker and H. B. Seely Company. 

Herrick B. Seely was for many years a merchant in the 
village, and also served as Postmaster. He was a fine business 
man and stood high in the community and among wholesale 
merchants as a man of strict integrity. At his death the 
business descended to his sons, one of whom still continues in 
business in the village in general merchandise, under the firm 
name of H. B. Seely Co. The firm does a large and profitable 
business, and are in every way worthy successors of their 
father, who laid the foundation for long-continued mercantile 
business by the family. 

The first Methodist Church was organized at Jerome in the 
year 1835 and services were first held at the residence of 
Henry Beach. Among the early members were the Beaches, 
Stones, Hallecks, Wells and Frederick families. 

A log church was erected in 1842, which was occupied as 
a church until a short time before the outbreak of the Civil 
War. A frame church was erected and dedicated April 15th, 
1860, by a Rev. Dr. Warner as pastor. Among the ministers 
who have served as pastors of the congregation are: Rev. 
Chase, Rev. Hathaway, Rev. John E. Moore, Rev. Edward 
Rudesill, Rev. J. Shoop, Rev. Thurston, Rev. Ferris, Rev. 
Pierman, Rev. Abernathy, Rev. J. K. Argo, Rev. Pryor, Rev. 
Theodore Crayton, Rev. A. Holcomb. Rev. A. L. Rogers, Rev. 
B. J. Judd, Rev. Tubbs, Rev. Thomas Ricketts, Rev. Thomas 
Wakefield, Rev. J. H. Middling. Rev. A. Plum. Rev. John 
Gordon. 

The Jerome Presbyterian Church was organized December 
16th, 1853, and Rev. William Brinkerhoff was the first pastor. 



44 History of Jerome Township 

Templeton Liggett and John Fleck were the first RuHng 
Elders. Rev. Brinkerhoff served as pastor of the church until 
the congregation decided to become a Congregational Church, 
on November 2d, 1862, and he then resigned as pastor. After- 
ward Rev. Hawn, an old-school Presbyterian, became pastor, 
followed by Rev. C. N. Coulter in 1866. In 1867 the denomi- 
nation was again changed to the new-school Presbyterian, and 
Rev. A. N. Hamlin became pastor, followed by Rev. Steven- 
son, Rev. Mason, Rev. Hill, Rev. Crow, Rev. Thomas, Rev. 
Christ, Rev. Henry Shedd. About the year 1898 the Presby- 
terian and Methodist congregations united and the Presbyte- 
rian Society was abandoned. The Methodists now have a 
good, strong congregation under the pastorate of Rev. John 
Gordon. 

SCHOOLS. 

The educational privileges have always compared favorably 
in the schools of the village with other schools in the township, 
which is noted in the county for its excellent schools. Under 
the present efficient Superintendent, Professor Homer E. 
Cahall, the Special High School ranks among the best in the 
county. 

The new school building, known as the Ryan Memorial 
School, Jerome Special High School, is modern in every re- 
spect and speaks volumns for the community in which it is 
located. The district, with the help of Mr. Ryan, erected this 
spacious and beautiful structure, and the school and com- 
munity owe to Mr. Ryan, the great benefactor, a debt of grati- 
tude for his untiring energy and etTorts in their behalf. The 
School Board and all progressive citizens are entitled to great 
credit for their support toward securing a new building, and 
thus advancing the cause of education in this community. 

The building is a model as regards beauty and convenience, 
and cost approximately $11,000. It is a four-room building, 
and includes library room, office of the School Board and the 
superintendent, together with a spacious auditorium in the 
basement, which seats about 300 people. Nothing has been 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 45 

spared that might add to the comfort of the pupils, and the 
library is up-to-date and contains about 400 volumes. 
Through the efforts of the superintendent and the School 
Board the school was placed in the list of second-grade high 
schools of the State. The school is equipped with a fine ap- 
paratus for Physics, Agriculture, and Botany, and the present 
corps of teachers are very efficient. 

The Primary Department is in charge of Miss Marie 
Pounds, who is an excellent instructor for that grade. Mr. 
Lon McMillan is in charge of the Intermediate grades, while 
Professor H. E. Cahall has charge of the High School Depart- 
ment. Mr. McMillan has been a student both at Delaware 
and Ada Universities, and Professor Cahall is a graduate of 
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. 

There are about 100 pupils attending the school this year. 
The district has been centralized, the pupils being conveyed 
to school in modern vehicles. With a progressive superin- 
tendent and well-trained, competent teachers, and with an 
awakened and thoroughly Christianized community, the school 
will no doubt prosper in the future as it has in the past. 

As the Jerome school of today is much further advanced 
than the school of fifty years ago, so we may feel confident 
that fifty years hence the school will, in the onward march of 
progress, by far surpass the school of today. In the language 
of the historian, "The Past has taught its lesson, the Present 
has its duty, and the Future has its hope." 

PHYSICIANS. 

Of the physicians who have practiced in Jerome may be 
named Drs. Converse, Asberry, Holland, John E. Herriott, 
Dr. P. F. Beverly (who served as surgeon of the 30th Regi- 
ment, O. V. I.), Dr. Henry, Dr. Bargar, and Dr. Kirbey. 

The following named citizens have served as postmasters : 
Horace Beach, Isaac Wells. George Leasure, Hurd Lewis, Dr. 
Converse, S. H. Brake, William O'Hara, John Latham, Joseph 
Brobeck, James Linn, W. Wells, H. B. Seeley, George Dixon, 



46 History of Jerome Toivnship 

Olliver Asbury, Lattimer & Hamilton, and Pearl E. Hyland. 
The mail is now received R. F. D. from Plain City. 

Among the old and prominent families who settled in the 
eastern section of the township in the early days were the 
Stones, Donaldsons, Norrises, Colliers, Roberts, Fredericks, 
Pattersons, Dorts, Cases, Beaches, Wells, Bishops, Evans, 
Moss, Hudsons, Brobecks, Williams, McCrorys, Herriotts, 
Magills, Hills, Jacksons, Neils, Langstaffs, Stuarts, Frys, 
Brakes, O'Harra, Ashbaughs, Perrys, Seeleys, Temples, Bow- 
ersmiths, McKitricks, Foxes, Brinkerhoffs, Durboroughs, and 
many others who came later. There were but few of these 
families who had members that were eligible to military service 
who were not represented in the Union Army. 

There was quite a military spirit abounding in the village 
in the ante-bellum days. Some of us who took part in the 
Civil War can recall the days in the late years of 1840 when 
the muster and training days of the "Corn-Stalk Militia" on 
the farms of James A. and Robert Curry were looked forward 
to by the boys as the great events of the year. When Captain 
Kilburn Beach, in gorgeous regimentals, cockade and flowing 
plumes, drilled the Militia, the rattling of the drums and the 
shrill notes of the fife was the signal for all the boys in the 
neighborhood to assemble at the place of muster to hear the 
music and witness the drill. 

This recalls the poem in the old Second Reader of that day : 

"Was you ne'er a Schoolboy 

And did you never train, 
And feel the swelling of your heart, 

You ne'er shall feel again ; 
We charged upon a flock of geese 

And put them all to flight. 
Except one sturdy gander 

\Mio thought he'd show us fight; 
But oh ! we knew a thing or two, 

Our Captain wheeled the van. 
We scouted them, we routed them, 

Nor lost a single man." 



History of Jerome Township 47 

Little did the boys of this neighborhood, when reading or 
reciting this old poem, think they would, in a few years, have 
the opportunity to charge upon an enemy in real war, in some 
of the greatest battles of modern times. 

Isaac Wells, a prominent citizen of Jerome, was Orderly 
Sergeant, and some of us remember about the men lying 
around on the grass answering to their names as he called the 
roll at the close of the day's arduous drill. The patriotic and 
military spirit instilled in the boys by the training and muster 
days, in which they were too young to take part, was aroused 
to fever heat when war was declared in April, 1861. At the 
time when the first company for three months was being or- 
ganized at New California, I recall that several of us attended 
a war meeting at Jerome. It was held in the Presbyterian 
Church and Rev. William Brinkerhoff, pastor of the church, 
made an eloquent address, of which I remember one sentence 
distinctly. The drums were on the pulpit platform, to which 
he called attention by saying: "Munitions of war and the 
Bible are side by side in the House of the Lord." 

The only full company organized in the township was at 
Jerome. This company was organized in August, 1861, and 
the officers at organization were: Captain, Elijah Warner; 
First Lieutenant, Henry BrinkerhofT; Second Lieutenant, 
Henry Hensel. 

One hundred and two soldiers served in the company dur- 
ing the war, and thirty-two died in the service. The company 
was assigned as Company E, 30th Regiment, O. V. I. Captain 
Warner was promoted to Major of the Regiment; Lieutenant 
Brinkerhoflf was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd 
Mississippi, U. S. C. T., and James D. Bain was promoted to 
the Captaincy of the company. 

Lieutenant Colonel Brinkerhoff remained in the Regular 
Army after the close of the Civil War, and was retired a few 
years ago with the rank of Colonel. Major Warner, Captain 
Bain and Lieutenant Hensel are all dead. As I recall, Ser- 
geant James C. Collier, who had a long and honorable service 
from August 19th, 1861. to August 13th. 1865, is the last sur- 



48 History of Jerome Township 

vivor of that company of 102 brave Jerome Township boys 
residing in the vicinity at this time. 

The company had a remarkable service and the losses were 
appalling, as almost one-third of their number were killed or 
died in the service, and scarcely a man in the company escaped 
some casualty, either by wounds or by being captured as a 
prisoner of war. 

THE VILLAGE OF NEW CALIFORNIA. 

The village of New California was platted in 1853 and the 
first general store was opened by S. B. W^oodburn and Dr. 
Albert Chapman. Soon after the platt was made, Samuel 
Ressler of Marysville, Ohio, erected a two-story frame build- 
ing on the southwest corner of the square for a tavern, and 
did quite a thriving business for a number of years. He also 
had a small grocery in the same building. This soon became 
the great center for the stock business in the southern part of 
the county. Stock scales were erected and hundreds of hogs 
would be driven in by the farmers in one day. They were 
then driven to Pleasant Valley or Worthington to be shipped 
by rail to New York. Some droves would number three or 
four hundred and many boys in the neighborhood were em- 
ployed at 50 cents a day to drive them, often through mud and 
rain. As there were no bridges spanning the small streams, 
and the water at times being solidly frozen, it would be the 
work of hours to force the great droves of hogs across the ice, 
and the boys well earned the half-dollar a day. 

The Ressler Tavern was quite a favorite hostelry in its 
day, as there was a great deal of travel on the State Road, 
running from Pleasant Valley to Delaware, and also on the 
road leading from Marysville to Columbus. Many were the 
yarns spun in the old barroom as travelers, drovers, and others 
gathered around the old open-front wood fire Franklin stove, 
smoking their pipes and "stogies" furnished by the genial 
landlord. The first mails, once a week, were carried on horse- 
back from Dublin in those ante-bellum days. Still, the arrival 
of the mail, carried in large saddle-bags, was quite an import- 



History of Jerome Township 49 

ant event, as it brought the weekly papers, and all were eager 
to hear the latest news — but a week old. 

Among the merchants who "kept store" and kept the post- 
office in the village the following named are recalled : S. B. 
Woodburn, Perry Buck, John Liggett, John Robinson, H. 
Benton, George Stokes, William Thompson, Robert Thomp- 
son, Otway, John W. and W. L. Curry, Fred Fleck, Robert 
Hager, Albert Allen, H. M. Dort, Jesse Curry, and Grant E. 
Herriott. 

Mr. Grant E. Herriott, the present merchant, has been in 
business in the village several years. He is an energetic, pro- 
gressive young man, has a good trade, is doing a flourishing 
business in general merchandise. He takes a deep interest in 
the schools, is treasurer of the School Board, is active in all 
the business affairs of the township, and is up-to-date. 

The first physician who practiced in the village was Dr. 
Culver, and in succession Drs. Milo Lawrence, Thomas J. 
Haynes, James Cutler, B. F. McGlade, J. S. Howland, Dr. 
Merriam, Dr. Vigor, the present physician, has a large and 
lucrative practice. 

Some of the characters of the village were quite interest- 
ing, and had some traits that would have made David Harum 
green with envy. The village blacksmith was John Walley, 
which recalls the poem : 

" Under a spreading chestnut tree. 

The village smithy stands ; 
The smith, a mighty man is he, 

With large and sinewy hands ; 
And the muscles of his brawny arms 

Are strong as iron bands." 

In his shop the schoolboys congregated at the noon hour 
to watch the sparks fly from the red-hot iron, as the swarthy 
smith hammered the horseshoes into shape and nailed them to 
the hoofs of many wild and vicious horses. 

John was a great story teller, and it was claimed that he 
had great imagination and at times "used the truth with parsi- 
monious frugality." He claimed to have invented a magnify- 



50 History of Jerome Township 

ing glass, through which he could look into the earth three 
miles. With this glass he located several gold and silver 
mines in the neighborhood, but they were never developed for 
lack of funds, He never would allow anyone to see the glass, 
as he claimed he did let one man look through it and it magni- 
fied so strong that it killed him. 

He was also a great skater and one of his stories was that 
one time when he lived in Dublin, Ohio, he skated to Colum- 
bus and back, twenty-four miles, before breakfast, and cut 
ten acres of wheat with a cradle the same day. He did not 
let the seasons spoil a good story. The tales of the Arabian 
Knights vanished into nothingness beside the wonderful 
stories of the blacksmith, and it is but little wonder that the 
schoolboys stood with eyes distended and mouths agape as 
they listened to his wonderful tales. 

The Gowan boys also erected quite a pretentious black- 
smith and wagon-shop and for many years did a thriving busi- 
ness. Others recalled in the same line were Wilson Martin 
and John Hickman. Both of the latter were queer and inter- 
esting characters, and many amusing stories could be related 
of their peculiarities. 

Martin was quite a nimrod and usually kept his rifle handy 
in the shop for any emergency, if game was reported in the 
vicinity. One day he was busily engaged shoeing a horse for 
a farmer when a boy came into his shop and reported a flock 
of wild turkeys in the woods near by. Martin dropped the 
horse's foot, seized his rifle, bullet pouch and powder horn 
and made for the designated quarry on the double quick, leav- 
ing the horse half shod. In about two hours he returned, 
groaning under the load of three sleek, fat, brown turkeys on 
his back. All the villagers assembled to see the game and 
congratulated Martin on his wonderful prowess as a hunter. 
He, like many other great hunters, was no doubt drawing on 
his imagination a little by relating how he had driven these 
wild turkeys, that were swifter on foot than the fastest deer- 
hound in the country, to cover and how he had brought them 
down from the highest oak trees with his good and unerring 



History of Jerome Township 51 

rifle, "Black Bess." It was a thrilling story and the villagers 
were much enthused. But soon a damper w^s to come, as a 
neighboring farmer appeared on the scene after a man who 
had been killing his flock of tame turkeys. Martin was very 
much crestfallen when he learned the truth, and the farmer, 
a very liberal man, presented Martin with the turkeys and 
bade him "sin no more." But the blacksmith never heard the 
last of it from the village boys, who teased him about not 
knowing the difference between a tame and a wild turkey. 

THE LITTLE BROWN SCHOOLHOUSE. 

The old schoolhouse standing on the northeast corner of 
the square at New California is one among the last of the old 
landmarks left in that village of buildings erected more than 
half a century ago. 

The house was very substantially built, as was the custom 
in those early days, otherwise it would not have stood intact 
for three score years. The frame is of heavy hewn oak, 
doors, windows, casing, weather-boarding and shingles walnut, 
all worked out by hand. As you enter the front door there 
is a small room on the right about twelve or fourteen feet 
square, used for a hat and cloak room, and a similar room on 
the left, used for election purposes. The main room will seat 
about seventy-five persons, and was heated by a big box-wood 
stove, standing in the center of the room. It is undoubtedly 
the oldest schoolhouse in the county at this date, and accord- 
ing to the recollection of the "oldest inhabitants" it has re- 
ceived but one coat of brown paint since it was erected. 

This house was erected in 1852 and the first "Select 
School" was taught by Llewellyn B. Curry in the winter of 
1582-3. 

By the kindness of my two old schoolmates, Robert Mc- 
Crory and R. L. Woodburn, a photograph of the old school- 
house, as it now appears with broken windows and weather- 
beaten by the blistering suns of summer and the blasting 
storms of more than fifty winters, was placed in my hands. 

As we look at that photograph, what memories of the days 



52 History of Jerome Township 

of more than half a century ago come trooping thick and fast, 
some sweet memories and some sad. Sweet memories, as the 
old song goes, of 

"School days, school days, 
Good old Golden Rule days, 
Reading, and writing, and 'rithmetic, 
Taught to the tune of a hickory stick." 

Pleasant days to think about now, but not all so pleasant 
when the "schoolmaster" used the rod with a heavy hand, as 
he was wont to do on frequent occasions, but usually not 
amiss. 

Then there are the sad memories when we recall the great 
majority who, with us, pored over the hard examples in Ray's 
Arithmetic and parsed, with the thirty-five rules of the old 
Kirkham Grammar,, Gray's "Elegy" and "Hamlet's Solilo- 
quy," who have crossed the dark river. No other period 
in the life of man is so fraught with unalloyed happiness as 
the good old school days. 

The citizens of that day who by their enterprise and with 
a view of raising the standard of the common schools, erected 
the building have all passed to their reward, but their work has 
borne good fruit. Among the many old settlers who were 
interested and assisted both by work and contributions may be 
named Jesse Gill, John, Alfred, Samuel, David and Andrew 
McCampbell, Samuel B. and John Woodburn, John, William, 
Templeton and Henry Liggett, James A. Stephenson, Robert 
and John Curry, Nelson Cone, Jesse and David Mitchell, 
Dixon, Thomas, James. Moderwell and Mitchell Robinson, 
Walter Gowans, John McDowell, Rev. I. N. Lauhead, Perry 
Buck, Judah Dodge. James and David Dort, Jame Ketch, 
William Bigger, William Taylor, Anthony Wise. Elijah, Ira 
and Henry Fox, Landon Bishop, John Ruehlen and John 
Nonnemaker. 

Many other citizens in the township whose names might 
be mentioned were interested, but the names given are of the 
old settlers within a radius of two miles who took an active 
part in this advanced movement in educational matters. 



History of Jerome Township 53 

The building fund was secured by private subscription, ex- 
cepting $50 donated by the township, with the proviso that it 
could be used for elections and township meetings. 

As there was no other public hall in the village, it was used 
not only for elections, but for all kinds of political, religious, 
Sunday School, singing schools and public meetings as long as 
it was occupied for school purposes and served the public well 
for nearly half a century. 

The original idea in erecting the building was for the sole 
purpose of establishing a "Select School" where the higher 
branches were taught to prepare students for teaching or to 
enter college. The teachers were, with few exceptions, college 
graduates, and the branches taught included higher mathemat- 
ics and the languages. A literary society was organized and 
was continued from year to year as long as the Select School 
was kept up, which was for a period of about forty years and 
until a graded district school was established in the village. 

The school was largely attended and at one time it was 
shown by the records of certificates issued by the Board of 
School Examiners that there was a sufficient number of teach- 
ers in Jerome Township to supply all the schools in the county. 

Many young men and women who attended this school 
received, through encouragement from these high-grade teach- 
ers, their first incentive to secure a collegiate education. A 
large number of them did enter college and were graduated 
with honors and are now successful business or professional 
men and attribute their success largely to the educational ad- 
vantages in this school. 

Among the teachers were Llewellyn B. Curry, Rev. I. N. 
Laughead, Rev. Isaac Winters, Olive Gill, David Cochran, 
Samuel Graham, Mr. Johnson, Thomas Evans, R. L. Wood- 
burn, George Ruehlen, Mr. McCharahan, Leroy Welsh, James 
Curry, John Stockton. E. L. Liggett, Calvin Robinson, David 
H. Cross and J. W. Baughman. 

Of these teachers the following named have died: 
Llewellyn B. Curry, Rev. L N. Laughead, Rev. Isaac 



54 History of Jerome Township 

Winters, David Cochran, Samuel Graham, E. L. Liggett, Olive 
Gill Mitchell, Leroy Welsh, and R. L. Woodburn. 

The names and residences of the survivors so far as known 
are : Thomas Evans, in Decatur, Illinois ; Colonel George 
Ruehlen, Quartermaster U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. ; Rev, 
James Curry, Newark, California; Calvin Robinson, Harting- 
ton, Nebraska ; D. H. Cross, Pasco, Texas, and J. W. Baugh- 
man. 

Of the other named teachers the addresses are not known, 
if they still survive. 

The descendants of the old settlers named as taking an 
active part in organizing this school were all pupils of the 
school, numbering from three to perhaps six in each family, 
and in all several hundred during the forty school years. The 
school term only extended over the late autumn and fall 
months and did not interfere with the public schools of the 
winter, and many of the students taught country schools dur- 
ing the winter and "boarded around" among the scholars. 

They are now of the third generation, counting from the 
first settlers of the county in 1T98. Many of that generation 
have reached the allotted age of three score years and ten, and 
those who survive are scattered all over the continent, from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

Many pleasant incidents are recalled of those good old 
days, and as the classes of boys and girls were about equally 
divided, in the parlance of today it would be known as a 
Co-ed School. 

A beautiful woods of sugar and other forest trees, the 
property of James A. Curry, adjoined the schoolhouse lot. 
This was the favorite trysting place of the boys and girls rang- 
ing from 16 to 18 years of age. At the noon hour many of 
these pupils could be seen walking under the shade of the 
grand old forest trees and perhaps late in the fall gathering 
hickory-nuts, which were usually in abundance. No doubt 
some of these joyous-hearted girls and boys, as they strolled 
along the shady paths, or, seated on the trunk of a fallen tree, 
plighted their friendship — perhaps love — talked not only 



History of Jerome Toivnship 55 

of the present but of the future. Can any of the old pupils, 
whose hair may now be sprinkled with the gray tints of the 
autumn of life, recall such a scene? Some of these joyous 
hopes were destined to be rudely broken by the cruel fate of 
war. Family ties were to be severed; sad hearts of mothers, 
sisters and sweethearts were to linger prayerfully in the old 
farmhouses along "Sugar Run" waiting for the loved ones 
who would never return. 

The fall term of 1860 ended the school days of many of 
those farmer boys forever, and they were to play an important 
part in that great drama of Civil War. 

Already the bark of the war dogs could be heard sounding 
nearer and nearer. 

The writer, with several other students who had attended 
this "Select School," had just entered upon a college course 
at Otterbein University, but in the spring of 1861 our books 
were packed, and so ended our school days for all time. 

NEW CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS OF TODAY. 

The school building is a substantial frame erected about 
three years ago, with five rooms and thoroughly modern, with 
all conveniences for the comfort of the pupils. To those of 
us who were pupils here almost three-score years ago, it is a 
great pleasure to witness the marked progress in educational 
facilities, although the school here at that early date was con- 
sidered among the best in the county. The erection of the 
old frame schoolhouse which still stands on the corner of the 
square, marked the first advance in higher education in this 
community. While all the old families of enterprising and 
Christian citizenship who first inaugurated this movement have 
passed away, still their descendants have kept up their interest 
in education matters, and it is pleasing to note that some of 
them are now members of the School Board and join hand in 
hand with the newcomers in all matters pertaining to good 
citizenship. 

Professor J. B. Hughes is the present Superintendent, 
assisted by a corps of competent teachers, all of whom rank 



56 History of Jerome Township 

among the best qualified teachers of the county : Mr. Henry 
Stewart, Principal ; Miss Margaret Strapp and Miss Ada May, 
Primary Department ; Miss Leo D. Wise, Intermediate ; Miss 
Lelon Neill, Grammar; Miss Nora Mulcahy, Assistant High 
School Principal. The grand total of pupils in attendance is 
196; graduates in 1913, 10; and 39 pupils in the different 
grades in High School, with three courses : Latin, English, and 
Commercial, all adapted to the needs of pupils who aspire to 
a college or university course. 

The Board of Education is now planning to erect a high 
school building of four rooms during the ensuing year. The 
following named progressive citizens compose the Board of 
Education at this time: J. W. Mitchell, J. M. Curry, G. W. 
Carson, John Gugle, John McKittrick, Dr. W. C. Vigor 
(Clerk), Grant E. Herriott (Treasurer). Under the manage- 
ment of this board, with Professor Hughes and the competent 
teachers, this school holds an enviable place among the schools 
of the county and in all matters connected with the school in 
its onward progress the citizens of the community take a great 
pride. 

With comfortable covered conveyances in which all the 
pupils are carried from their homes and returned safely, it is 
certainly a joy to be permitted to attend such a school, as com- 
pared with the conditions fifty years ago, when the pupils were 
compelled to wade through mud or snow up to their knees in 
the winter season, and but few comforts and conveniences in 
the schoolhouses. 

What a transformation ! Only two centralized schools in 
the township at this time, and before the system was changed 
at least ten district. Graduation from these high schools pre- 
pares the farmer boy for business or entry into college. 

Of the many school-teachers of Jerome Township of con- 
tinuous service for a long period, C. L. Curry is no doubt en- 
titled to the credit and stands at the head of the list. He 
taught every year from the winter of 1868 to 1884 inclusive, 
a period of seventeen years, with no interval — a total of nine- 
teen terms, or seventy months. 




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History of Jerome Tozvnship 57 

Olive Gill, Emma and Sophia Dodge, Nancy McCampbell 
and many other teachers of long service might be named. 

Mr. Curry has always taken a deep interest in educational 
matters, not only in the township, but in the county and State, 
and still keeps up his interest and is always ready to lend a 
helping hand for advancement along progressive lines in the 
public schools. 

THE VILLAGE OF ARNOLD. 

The village of Arnold is located on the Toledo and Ohio 
Central Railroad at the crossing of the gravel road leading 
from Plain City to New California. 

The railway station was located and the village platted 
on the land of Mrs. George Arnold, for whom the town is 
named, in the fall of 1893. The station was first named New 
California, until application was made for a postoffice, and 
the name was then changed, as there was a postofiice at New 
California. 

Mr. James Arnold, who established the first grocery in 
the village, was appointed Postmaster. He discontinued busi- 
ness and the office was abandoned. Fred Smith was com- 
missioned Postmaster in 1896, but never performed the duties, 
as he sold his business just at the time his commission arrived. 
Mrs. Carrie Fleck was then appointed to the position, and she, 
with her husband, Perry Fleck, established a general store in 
the village in the fall of 1896. 

Mrs. Fleck continued as Postmistress until the office was 
discontinued, March 1st, 1910, by reason of establishing free 
mail delivery, and mail is now received from Plain City. R. 
R. No. 3. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck have built up a good trade in 
groceries and drygoods, and deal largely in produce by having 
a wagon run on a number of routes through the country, and 
deliver their produce in Columbus every week. 

There is one grocery, of which J. W. Cunningham is pro- 
prietor ; an ax-handle factory, and two warehouses, both 
owned by J. R. Herriott, at the Station. Quite a large amount 
of goods — coal and other freight — is received at the Station, 



58 History of Jerome Township 

and a great deal of timber and sawed lumber is shipped from 
this point. There are twenty-four dwelling houses and the 
village has a population of about one hundred, the children 
attending the Central School at New California. 

JEROME TOWNSHIP CITIZENS WHO HAVE 

SERVED AS STATE, COUNTY, AND 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

Four Jerome Township citizens have served as members of 
the Ohio Legislature. 

James Curry represented the counties of Delaware and 
Madison before Union County was organized, for the years 
1812, 1813, 1814, 1815; also for the years 1819, 1820, and was 
a member of the Legislature when the law was enacted for 
the erection of Union County, so named as territory was 
taken from the counties of Delaware, Franklin, Logan and 
Madison. 

Otway Curry represented the counties of Crawford, Ma- 
rion and Union in ]837 and 1838. 

Robert L. Woodburn represented Union County in 1904- 
1908. 

Charles D. Brown was elected in 1912 and is the present 
Representative. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

ASSOCIATE JUDGE 

James Curry _ _..1825-1827 

PROBATE JUDGES 

James McCampbell 1894-1900 

Dudley E. Thornton _ 1906-1913 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS 

Otway Curry 1848-1853 

Robert L. Woodburn _.„ „ 1877-1881 

COUNTY TREASURER 

William M. Liggett 1879-1883 

COUNTY AUDITORS 

Clark Provin _ 1821-1823 

\\\ L. Curry „.... 1875-1882 



History of Jerome Township 

CLERK OF THE COURT 

Robert McCrory 1888-1892 

COUNTY RECORDER 

Edward H. Hatton 1905-1911 

SHERIFF 

James Ewing „ 1823-1828 

Charles M. Robinson _ 1862-1864 

J. Ed. Robinson 1896-1900 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 

Jesse Gill 1844 

Nelson Cone _ 1853 

John K. Dodge 1878 



59 



TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

JUSTICES QF THE PEACE 



Clark Provin 1821 

John McCune 1823 

James Ewing _ 1824 

James Buck _ 1825 

Henry Sager _ 1827 

James Buck _ _ _ 1828 

William Long „ 1832 

John McCampbell 1837 

Caleb Converse 1838 

S. Snodgrass _ 1839 

Thomas Wason _ 1839 

Thomas M. Ewing 1841 

Thomas Mason 1842 

Joseph Button 1842 

Thomas M. Ewing _. 1847 

Perry Buck 1848 

Kilbourn Beach 1848 

James B. Dort „ 1850 

Thomas M. Ewing 1850 

Perry Buck _ _ 1851 

I. N. Wells _ 1852 

Leroy F. Hager 1853 



Perry Buck _. _ 1854 

Templeton Liggett 1855 

I. N. Wells - 185': 

James Ketch - 1856 

Samuel B. Woodburn 1858 

I. N. Wells - 1858 

James Ketch _ _.. 1859 

I. N. Wells _..„ 1867 

S. B. Woodburn 1867 

Nelson Cone 1869 

S. B. Woodburn_ 1870 

S. W. H. Durboraw 1870 

Nelson Cone _ _ 1872 

S. B. Woodburn 1873 

S. W. H. Durboraw _.. 1873 

J. P. McDowell „ 1875 

James Ketch _. 1876 

S. W. H. Durboraw 1876 

James Robinson _ 1878 

Nelson Cone „ _.. 1879 

Robert McCrory 1879 

Perry Buck _ _.. 1882 



60 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Robert McCrory 18R2 J. P. McDowell _..„....1894-97 

J. P. McDowell 1882 R. S. Fry .1897-1900 

Benjamin W. Evans...l884-87 Samuel L. Neil __1897-1900 

J. P. McDowell 1885-88 J. P. McDowell 1897-1900 

Robert McCrory _..1885-88 J. P. McDowell „ 1900-03 

H. S. Gillespie _ 1887-90 R. S. Fry 1900-03 

William Stone 1888-91 Henry Brobeck _ 1901-04 

H. S. Gillespie 1890-93 J. P. McDowell 1903-06 

Benjamin W. Evans...l891-94 D. J. Landaker _ 1905-08 

William H. Stone 1891-94 J. P. McDowell 1906-09 

J. P. McDowell _ 1891-94 J. P. McDowell _ 1908-12 

R. S. Fry _._ 1894-97 Pearl Hyland 1910-14 

S. W. H. Durboraw...l894-97 J. P. McDowell _ 1912-16 

J. P. McDowell bas served many years longer tban any 
other Justice of the Peace — a period of thirty-three years, 
should he be spared to serve out his present term. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS — 1913. 

Trustees — George Grewell, J. J. Mayberry, C. L. Koerner. 

Township Treasurer — Grant E. Herriott. 

Township Clerk — W. C. Vigor. 

All of the township officials were very much interested in 
the Soldiers' Monument, and rendered efficient service in the 
erection and dedication of the monument. 

The number of votes cast in the township at the election 
in November, 1912, was 445, and the total population, as near 
as can be ascertained, is 2,200, an increase of 2125 since the 
organization of the township in the year 1821. 

DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. 
Services were held May 30, 1913, in the old United Presby- 
terian Church, where the first war meeting was held April 
24th, 1861. 

Following is the program of exercises for the day : 

Hon. J. L. Cameron _ President of the Day 

Song — America. 

Invocation _ __ „ Rev. James Curry 

Introducing President of the Day „ Thomas J. Dodge 



History of Jerome Township 61 

Song, "The Little White Church in the Wildwood," 
School Children. 

Address Hon. Frank B. Willis 

Song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" _ School Children 

Flag Drill „ „ „ Twelve Little Girls 

Recitation, "The Loyal Legion" Miss Mary Gill 

Marshal of the Day George C. Edwards 

Aid - - - Prof. Homer E. Cahall 

Aid — _ Ney Fleck 

PARADE. 

Marysville Drum Corps. 

Soldiers. 

School Children. 

March to the Monument. 

Song, "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" School Children 

Unveiling of Monument — By Children 

Ruth Woodburn Sharer, Mabel Kahler, Will Thompson, 

William Curry Jeannot. 

Historical Address _ Colonel W. L. Curry 

Presentation of deed to Township Trustees by Monument 

Committee. 
Response on behalf of Trustees and Citizens of the Town- 
ship accepting the Monument Hon. Charles D. Brown 

Song, "Star-Spangled Banner" _ School Children 

Doxology. 

Benediction _ Rev. John Gordon 

Decorating Graves. 

COMMITTEES. 

General Committee. 
C. L. Curry David Wise Joseph Kahler 

G. E. Herriott Arthur Collier Jasper Converse 

T. J. Dodge J. C. Collier Delmore Snodgrass 

S. H. Carson J. P. McDowell Robert McCrory 

George C. Edwards. 
Music. 
Prof. J. B. Hughes Mrs. Dell McCampbell 



62 History of Jerome TozvnsJiip 

Mrs. W. C. Vigor Ruth Evans Jesse Mitchell 

Mrs. WilHam Fry. 

Decoration. 

Dr. W. C. Vigor Sanford Stewart Andrew Gill 

Malcolm McCampbell Mrs. Ed. Hinderer 

Harrold Fry Mrs. J. M. Curry Mrs. T. R. Dodge 

Flowers. 
Mary Hooper Alice Ish Mrs. Walker Carson 

Maggie Patch Emma Comstock Helen Fry 

Bernice McDowell Hazel Herriott. 

Flag Drill. 
Leo Wise May Williams Cecil Dodge Alma Hopper 
On the four sides of the Monument, just above the founda- 
tion, are the names of battles of Gettysburg, Chickamauga, 
Vicksburg, and Appomattax. On the four large dies are the 
names of the soldiers. On the two upper dies are two in- 
scriptions : 

1861 Our Jerome Township Heroes. 1913 

In honor of the men who served in the Army of the Union. 
Those who fought and lived and those who fought and died. 
May this shaft ever call to memory the story of the glory of 
the men who wore the Blue. 

Bright upon historic page, 

Enrolled their names shall ever shine. 
With peerless luster, age on age. 

Through bright'ning realm of coming time. 
Portrait of Lincoln is on one of the dies, and the names 
of soldiers on the remaining one. 

The committee has secured from Fort Monroe, Va., a 
siege gun 10 feet 5 inches long, weighing 16.000 pounds, and 
eighty 8-inch shells. These are to be placed on the monu- 
ment lot and around the lot will be erected an iron fence. 
The lot and Monument have been deeded to the Trustees of 
Jerome Township, and will be carefully preserved as a sacred 
trust for all time. 

An interesting account of the services of unveiling and the 



History of Jerome Township 63 

dedication of the Monument was published in the Marysville 
Tribune, from which the following extracts are taken : 

"Jerome Township's enduring tribute to its soldier dead, 
a monument of White Bronze, costing $1,500, was dedicated 
Memorial Day, with exercises of a particularly fitting nature. 

"Practically all of the citizens of the township, and many 
from the adjoining neighborhoods, were gathered at New 
California to witness the unveiling of the beautiful shaft, and 
participate in the program of dedicating the memorial to fu- 
ture generations. 

"Distinguished sons of the township who have spent their 
later years in other localities were present in large numbers to 
join in this memorial and loving devotion to the comrades 
and associates of their boyhood days, also to decorate the 
graves of comrades who lie buried in the peaceful and quiet 
little cemetery — 

"Under the sod and the dew, 
Waiting the judgment day, 
and to renew on this hallowed soil of their youth the many 
friendships that have been left uncultivated, but not forgotten, 
through years of separation and absence from the old-time 
scenes. 

"The Monument at New California is a magnificent shaft 
of white bronze, 21 feet 4 inches high, with an heroic figure 
of an infantryman at the summit. In addition to bearing the 
names of 400 Jerome Township soldiers, cast on the monu- 
ment, inside the base of the shaft are the following historical 
papers : Roster of all soldiers who enlisted from Jerome 
Township ; names of committee which had charge of its erec- 
tion ; photographs of sixty Civil War veterans ; names of 
school children of the township ; names of subscribers to the 
Monument Fund ; copies of songs sung by the school children 
at the dedication, with program of the ceremonies." 

Extract from a letter published in the Tribune, signed 
"L. A. D." from New California, is quite interesting and ap- 
propriate : 

"The patriotic people of Jerome Township crowded the 



64 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

high-pressure mark on Decoration Day. The occasion was 
the unveiling of a monument at New California in memory 
and recognition of the sacrifices and heroism of her brave 
soldier boys from the Revolution down to and including the 
Spanish-American War. 

"Decoration Day dawned bright and warm, and long be- 
fore the hour for the unveiling exercises the streets of the 
little village were filled with people from all quarters, includ- 
ing Marysville, Plain City, and some far-distant points. 

"New California had never had so large a gathering on its 
hands and was completely taken by surprise." 

HISTORICAL ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE UN- 
VEILING OF JEROME SOLDIERS' MONU- 
MENT BY COLONEL W. L. CURRY. 

"The citizens of this township may well take a just pride 
in the history of its citizenship, both civil, military, and re- 
ligious, from the first settlement one hundred and fifteen years 
ago. To this township belongs the credit of having the first 
white settlers within the territory now composing Union county. 
The first cabin was erected by Joshua and James Ewing on 
the west bank of Darby Creek, one mile from Plain City, in 
the year 1798. 

"You have assembled today on historic ground. This land, 
known as the Virginia Military District, was ceded by the 
State of Virginia to the United States, with the stipulation 
that it was to be given to her soldiers for services rendered 
during the War of the Revolution. 

"The patent for the land on which you stand today was 
signed by President Andrew Jackson in favor of a soldier of 
the Revolution. 

"When the War of 1812 was declared, almost every man 
then a citizen of the township between the ages of 21 and 50 
served in some capacity during the war, and names of eleven 



Note. — A page or two of this address was copied from the town- 
ship history appearing in this volume, therefore published in dupli- 
cate, as it could not be abbreviated without marring the historical 
connection. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 65 

of these soldiers are engraved on this monument. A company 
was organized at Plain City, largely recruited from Jerome 
Township. The Captain of the company was Jonathan Alder, 
who had been a captive among the Indians for many years. 
This company marched by order of the Governor to a point 
about three miles north of Marysville, where they erected a 
blockhouse on the west bank of Mill Creek, which they gar- 
risoned for a short time. This was done for the protection 
of the settlers along Darby Creek and Sugar Run. 

"Captain Alder, who had lived among the Indians for 
many years and knew their mode of warfare, claimed that 
they would not attack the blockhouse but would murder the 
women and children in the settlements. Therefore, on his 
advice the company returned to their homes. This is the only 
fort erected within the territory of Union County. No attack 
was made on the settlers during that war, but there were many 
alarms and the women and children who were left without 
protection were kept in constant fear of an outbreak, as visits 
were made to the settlements frequently by roving bands of 
Indians who claimed to be friendly. 

"How appropriate it is that this beautiful and substantial 
monument should be erected on this spot of sacred memory — 
erected on land given to a soldier of the Revolution for his 
services in fighting for liberty during that war and to perpetu- 
ate the memory of the heroic deeds of our ancestors. Also 
in memory of their sons in the War of 1812, who protected 
the land so dearly bought, as well as the soldiers of the war 
with Mexico, the soldiers of the Civil War, who saved the 
government established by their forefathers, and the soldiers 
of the war with Spain, who fought to free an oppressed people. 
All worthy sons of worthy sires. Your ancestors of the Revo- 
lution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and of all our wars, 
have left you a noble heritage of a Republic founded and per- 
petuated by their valor. 

"The story of the inception, the progress and the comple- 
tion of this monument which you dedicate today, is one of 
patriotic service by the citizens not only residing in this com- 



6G History of Jerome Township 

munity, but of many friends and relatives of these soldiers 
residing in other States who have given substantial assistance. 
"To Robert L. Woodburn, whose generous bequest made it 
possible to erect this memorial, is due the credit in a larger 
degree than to any other person. He was born and his boy- 
hood days were passed within sight of this spot. His early 
school days in the old log schoolhouse in the woods, and next 
in the Little Brown Schoolhouse still standing yonder, a silent 
witness of this scene. Graduating at Wesleyan College, Dela- 
ware, as is well known, he became a successful lawyer and 
business man, and represented the county in the State Legis- 
lature with credit. His many generous deeds are well remem- 
bered, but it was not that charity paraded before the world, 
but the true charity when 'the left hand knoweth not what 
the right hand doeth.' 

"During all of his busy life he never tired of talking of the 
old home, old associates, and school days. A few years ago, 
in conversation with Robert McCrory and myself, he sug- 
gested that he would be pleased if I would write a brief history 
of the services of the soldiers who enlisted from the township, 
while some of the old landmarks and buildings were still 
standing. It was then agreed that they would have photo- 
graphs of the old church and the old schoolhouse taken, and I 
was assigned to the historical part of the work. The erection 
of a monument was taken up for consideration after the his- 
torical work had been commenced. 

"In due time the photographs were produced and from that 
day, some four years ago, I have been endeavoring to fulfill 
my part of the contract. Before starting on his European 
tour Mr. Woodburn visited me and stated that he had left a 
bequest in his will for this memorial. I never saw him in life 
again, but he was true to his promise, and with the enthusiastic 
support of the citizens and zealous work of your committee, 
you see before you the result of their laudable efforts. 

"To secure subscriptions and to look after all the details 
leading up to the completion and erection of this memorial has 
been no easy task. The committee has worked untiringly and 



History of Jerome Toivnship 67 

the patriotic citizens have responded cheerfully and generously 
to every call financially and by helpful assistance in arranging 
for this patriotic service. 

"In the sealed receptacle inside of the monument is de- 
posited the name and service of every soldier who enlisted 
from the township, the name of every subscriber to the Monu- 
ment Fund, the names of the school children of the township, 
photographs of upward of sixty soldiers of the Civil War, a 
copy of the program of the day, with songs, and the names of 
the committees who have had charge of all matters pertaining 
to the erection of the monument. 

"You all have an interest in this memorial, and some day 
in the far future, perhaps one hundred years hence, this re- 
ceptacle will be unsealed and your names will be read by your 
decendants. 

"Fifty-two years ago — April 24, 1861 — the first war meet- 
ing was held in this church, and the older citizens, Presbyteri- 
ans and Methodists, were prominent in this meeting. Rev. B, 
D. Evans, a Presbyterian minister, made an enthusiastic patri- 
otic speech, and although three-score years of age, he after- 
ward enlisted as one of the minute men and went to Cincinnati 
to assist in repelling the invasion of the Confederate army 
into Ohio. 

"The Bible and the munitions of war were side by side on 
the old pulpit. Much enthusiasm was manifested, and David 
O. Taylor, the first to enlist, was killed on the battlefield at 
Dallas, Ga., on the 27th of May, 1864. 

"Dr. James Cutler, a young physician of this village who 
had served in the Regular Army during the Mexican war, was 
elected Captain of the company. The company commenced at 
once to drill in the fields and meadows surrounding this village, 
and the shrill fife and the rattling drum were heard two or 
three times each week. 

"The busy hands of mothers and sisters in a few days fur- 
nished the first uniforms, consisting of red jackets and black 
caps. Young ladies of the neighborhood purchased silk in 
Columbus and made a large silk flag which was presented to 



68 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

the company down on the square July 4, 1861. Before the 
company was recruited to the required number a call was made 
for three years' service and this company did not enter the 
field as an organization, yet every one of them enlisted in the 
three years' service in many different regiments. 

"These boys marched gayly away to the wild music of war- 
drums, the blare of trumpets, with bright banners and uni- 
forms, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers cheering them 
on ; but they did not all return. Three-score and ten of your 
boys sleep on the battlefields of the South. Those who did 
return, came with banners blackened with the smoke of battle, 
faded uniforms, and sun-bronzed heroes of many battles. 
They served in forty-two different regiments, batteries, and 
other organizations. 

"Some of your boys, my fellow citizens, fought on almost 
every great battlefield of the war. They were at Gettysburg, 
where 41,000 boys of the North and South fell in two days; 
they were at Chickamauga, where 35,000 boys fell in two 
days ; they were at Shiloh, Stone River, Cheat Mountain, Port 
Republic, Antietam, Vicksburg, and many of the battlefields 
of Virginia; they were in the 'One Hundred Days under fire 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta' ; some of them marched with 
Sherman to the sea, and others were at Appomattox at the 
surrender of Lee's army. This is the true story of the serv- 
ices of the soldiers of this township to whom you pay tribute 
today by this ceremony of dedicating this monument and the 
strewing of flowers. 

"Three score and ten died for you and me that we might 
live and enjoy the many blessings of a free and united nation. 

"Upward of 2,600,000 soldiers served in the Union Army 
during the Civil War. Of that number Ohio furnished 313,180, 
and the losses, killed and those who died of wounds, were 
35,4T5. Union County sent to the battlefield 3,000 soldiers, 
one-tenth of whom enlisted in this township. Upward of 500 
who enlisted from the county were killed or died of wounds 
and disease in the service, and the total casualties were 1,035. 



History of Jerome Township 69 

About one-eighth of that number were from Jerome Town- 
ship. 

"We had no officers of high rank in the Civil War. One 
reached the rank of Colonel, one Major, five of Captain, but 
the rank and file who carried the musket, the carbine and knap- 
sack did the fighting and won the battles that saved the nation. 

"The erection of monuments and memorials to commemo- 
rate the sacrifices, sufferings and deeds of the fallen heroes of 
all our wars is very commendable. How appropriate the in- 
scription on your monument, which reads as follows : 

" 'In honor of the men who served in the Army of 
the Union. Those who fought and lived and those 
who fought and died. May this shaft ever call to 
memory the story of the glory of the men zvho wore 
the blue.' 

"This inscription should be memorized by every pupil in 
your schools, for the erection of memorials arouses the patri- 
otic enthusiasm of the youth of our land and instills in their 
minds loyalty to our flag and all that it implies. 

"The public school is the nursery of patriotism. Its best 
fruits are true Americans and the making of loyal and intelli- 
gent citizens. Then how appropriate it is that they should 
take part in these patriotic ceremonies. It will be an ominous 
day in the history of any family when it no longer remembers 
with gratitude the worthy deeds of its ancestors, and there is 
no cause, except religion, holier than the service to country or 
state. 

"First comes the cross, then the flag, for Christianity and 
patriotism go hand in hand. 

"One word more, my old neighbors and friends : always 
keep in mind and teach your children that this is the most 
sacred and pathetic of all American holidays ; let it not become 
a day of noise and a gala day. Remember the religious senti- 
ment of honoring the dead and perpetuating their deeds of 
valor in the beautiful ceremonies which make the day more 
sacred and nobler than any other holiday. 

"In the 'brave days of old' each year on the anniversary 



70 History of Jerome Toivnship 

of the battle of Marathon, the Greek sires would take their 
boys to the battlefield of Marathon, show them the monument 
erected to the heroes who there fell in defense of their land, 
and exalt the example of those who sacrificed life and limb 
for their country. 

"So should we, the friends and descendants of these brave 
men and heroes of all our wars, from Lexington in the War 
of the Revolution to Appomattox, kindle the fires of patriot- 
ism in our boys by holding up to them the imperishable deeds 
of our soldiers on all of our battlefields. 

"My fellow citizens, when the last survivor who enlisted 
here has answered his last roll call on earth, we can see with 
prophetic eye the descendants of these heroes gathered about 
this monument, reciting to their children and children's chil- 
dren the heroic deeds of their ancestors on the battlefield. 

"The victories were not all won by the soldiers at the front, 
for there was a loyal battle line in our homes in the North. 
There were heroes and heroines in the old homesteads who 
were not permitted to go to the front during the dark days 
of the war. Some citizens with families, others physically 
disabled, but all through those long and weary years their 
patriotism never faltered and they were ever ready to open 
their purses for payment of bounties and to care for families 
of the soldiers on the battle lines. 

"Then there were the mothers, the wives, the sisters, and 
the sweethearts — it has been truly said that there was one line 
that was never broken during the war; that was the 
line of the loyal women. Some of them are here today who 
cheered father, brother or sweetheart as he marched away to 
the music of the war-drums in 1861-1865. You waited anx- 
iously for many of them who did not return. 

"You loved them better than life, but you could only hope 
and pray. Your hearts were on the battle line at the front 
for your dear one was there and you would have scorned him 
had he failed in his duty to home and country. Your love and 
prayers followed him on the march and in the carnage of bat- 
tle, and he could not have been otherwise than brave. 



History of Jerome Township 71 

"Through all the long and weary years of the war you did 
not lose faith ; you wrote messages of cheer, suffered for every 
shot that pierced a loved one, and those who were spared re- 
turned victorious to receive your blessing. Of the many 
bright and happy girls who with their willing hands made and 
presented the silk flag to your boys within a stone's throw of 
this spot, July 4th, 1861, not more than half a dozen reside in 
this community today. 

"The fathers and mothers of that day have all passed away 
and the boys and girls of 1861 are now of the older generation. 
There are some sad hearts here today — widows of soldier hus- 
bands who have passed to the other shore, there awaiting the 
happy reunion, perhaps but a few years hence. 

"But to you, with all its sadness, you rejoice that your 
loved ones — husband or father — fought the good fight and is 
so highly honored today by this patriotic service and memorial. 

"And where are the boys who drilled and marched over 
the meadows and along the streets of this village fifty-two 
years ago ? Were the First Sergeants of the forty-two organi- 
zations in which these boys served here today and would give 
the command, 'Attention to roll call!' they would not all an- 
swer 'Here.' But on parade he could report to the Adjutant : 
'Sir, all present or accounted for.' Three score and ten died 
with honor on the field, two hundred sleep in the cemeteries 
of the North, only a remnant of the old guard survives, but 
'all present or accounted for' would be the answer. 

"One parting word, comrades of the Great March. You 
are not only veterans in service, but veterans in age now. 
Your heads are graying, your steps are halting, but you are 
young in heart — steadily marching behind the great recruiting 
officer. Death. The ranks are thinning — one hundred going 
down each day. We will not all meet on this historic ground 
again, but there are some here today who may live to see the 
Memorial Day when there will not be a veteran of the great 
war on earth. 

"There will be eloquent words spoken ; there will be patri- 
otic songs by the children ; there will be strewing of the sweet- 



72 History of Jerome Totvnship 

est flowers of springtime over the graves of your departed 
heroes, but not one will answer 'here' when the roll is called. 
My comrades, when we have all been mustered out by the 
Great Commander, when we have heard the bugle sounding 
reveille, for the last time calling us to duty, when 'taps' and 
'lights out' have been sounded for the last time, let us be ready 
to join our comrades on the other shore. It will be 'good 
night' here and 'good morning' over there. Salute the flag! 
Break ranks ! Farewell!" 

WAR HISTORY OF JEROME TOWNSHIP. 

At the first election held in Jerome Township, May 10th, 
1821, the total number of votes cast was fifteen. In the year 
1861, at the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, the 
population of the township was 1398, and the total number of 
voters was 216, the number of voters having increased 201 in 
forty years. 

The number of soldiers enlisting from the township during 
the war was 151 in excess of the number of voters in 
the township, or more than one-fourth of the total popula- 
tion of men, women and children. This is a most remarkable 
record of enlistment and challenges comparison with any 
township of like population in the State. 

It is shown by the official records that the average age of 
the soldiers who fought the battles of the Rebellion was less 
than 20 years. A number of Jerome Township boys were 
under 16 years of age at enlistment and at least one was but 14. 
The following table, compiled from official records, will 
be of interest to all students of war history: 
Total enlistments in the Union Army — 

At the age of 10 and under 25 

At the age of 12 and under „ 225 

At the age of 1-1 and under 1,523 

At the age of 16 and under 844,891 

At the age of 18 and under 1,151,438 

At the age of 21 and under _ 2,159,798 

22 years of age and over _ 618,511 




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History of Jerome Township 73 

Adding the number under 21 and over 22 — that is, 2,159,- 
798 and 618,511— the total enrollment was 2,778,309. Never 
before was a nation saved by youths in their teens. 

LOSSES. 

One hundred and ten thousand were killed in battle or died 
of wounds. Two hundred and forty-nine thousand, four hun- 
dred and fifty-eight died of disease and other causes, and two 
hundred and eighty thousand were wounded. 

Ohio furnished 313,180 soldiers and the losses in killed, 
died of wounds and disease were 35,124. Of this number 
3,000 enlisted from Union County, 533 were killed or died 
of wounds or disease, 360 were wounded, 143 were prisoners 
of war, and the total casualties were 1,035. The contribution 
of Jerome Township to this great army was 367, and 75 were 
killed or died in the service. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION — 1861-1865. 

There was no more patriotic community in Union County 
than Jerome Township, and every call for troops from April 
loth, 1861, to the close of the war, the quota was filled by 
volunteers and there was no draft made in the township. 

During the war, with scarcely an exception every boy who 
attended the Select School at New California enlisted in the 
army. 

They were intelligent farmer boys, lithe of limb and with 
strong healthy bodies. Accustomed to hard work on the farm, 
and handling wild and vicious horses, they were ideal 
cavalrymen. 

They were also trained marksmen with the rifle and were 
used to the chase in hunting wild turkeys and all kinds of 
small game. This was the class of boys who enlisted in that 
community to fight for the preservation of the Union. 

The ancestors of many of these boys had fought for liberty 
during the War of the Revolution and had left their descend- 
ants a noble heritage in which they took an honest pride. 

It has been turly said that "It is the mass of character that 



74 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

determines human conditions and decides national destiny ; 
whoever leads a good life, sets a good example, establishes a 
well-conducted family, worthily rears children, honestly pur- 
sues a respectable calling, who is frugal and industrious, makes 
the most precious contribution to his kind." 

Thus had lived these hardy pioneers who came with the 
Bible, the ax and the rifle, praying, working and watching. 
Though far removed in kinship, blood will tell for successive 
generations when opportunity comes, and that they sway and 
guide us after death of the ancester is an accepted truth of 
history. 

The warm blood of patriotism and heroism which flowed 
in the veins of the men of 'T6 does not become cold by the 
lapse of years in the veins of their descendants. 

The spirit which led them to battle for liberty inspired their 
descendants to fight the battles of all our wars, in which they 
have taken so prominent a part, in the War of 1812, war with 
Mexico, the War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish-American 
War. 

Therefore, at the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion 
these boys, inspired by the deeds of their forefathers, of which 
they had heard through their parents from early childhood, 
were ready to respond to the call to arms before the smoke had 
cleared from the battered walls of Fort Sumter. 

On the evening of the 24th of April, 1861, in response to 
the call for the first 75,000 volunteers, a war meeting was held 
in the old Seceder Church at New California. Patriotic 
speeches were made by many of the old citizens, and among 
others the Rev. B. D. Evans and Llewellyn Curry. \^olun- 
teers were called for, and the first young man to enroll his 
name and offer his services was David O. Taylor, who soon 
after joined the Thirteenth Ohio Regiment, and after serving 
his country for three years with honor, was killed on the bat- 
tlefield of Dallas, Georgia, on the 2rth day of May, 18G4. 
About forty of the young men of the neighborhood volun- 
teered that evening. 

Dr. James Cutler was a young practitioner, residing in the 



History of Jerome Township 75 

village, and as he had served two years in the Regular Army 
during the Mexican War, all eyes were turned toward him as 
a leader. He was an intelligent and progressive young man 
with a good practice and in whom the fathers and mothers 
had great faith. 

They were, therefore, extremely anxious that he should 
enter the service and command the company in which their 
boys enlisted. But he did not need any prompting, as he was 
enthusiastic and was among the first to sign the enlistment roll. 
He was elected Captain and gave the company their first drill 
in the old Scott tactics. 

W. L. Curry was elected First Lieutenant and D. R. Cone 
Second Lieutenant. 

Among the first to volunteer was Walter Gowans, a patri- 
otic Scotchman upward of 60 years of age, and in honor to 
him the company was named the "Gowans Guards." The 
company began drilling immediately at New California. The 
busy hands of mothers and sisters in a few days furnished 
uniforms, consisting of red jackets and black caps. The 
young ladies of the neighborhood made a large silk flag, which 
was presented to the company. 

The company soon numbered sixty volunteers, but before 
it was recruited to the required number to enter the service 
the call was made for three years' troops, and many of the 
boys becoming impatient to be off for the seat of war, began 
to enlist in companies that were being recruited more rapidly 
in the larger towns. The organization never entered the serv- 
ice, as their ranks were rapidly decimated by these enlistments 
in other organizations. All but two or three of this company 
soon enlisted and seventeen of them died in the service. 

The following list of names composes about a complete 
roster of the company which has been submitted to other mem- 
bers of the company for verification and correction : James 
Cutler, Captain ; W. L. Curry, First Lieutenant ; D. R. Cone, 
Second Lieutenant ; J. D. Bain, David Bain, William Beaver, 
W. J. Conklin, Otway Curry, W. W. Curry, David Curry, 
James A. Curry, James Curry, J. C. Cone, S. B. Cone, O. B. 



76 History of Jerome Toii'nship 

Cone. William Channell. W. H. H. Fleck. T. S. Fleck, Walter 
Gowans. Sr.. Andrew Gowans, Alexander Gowans, William 
Gowans, James Gowans. S. W. Gowans. Lewis Hoffner, James 
Hill. L. J. Ketch. Lewis Ketch, John Liggett. R. A. Liggett. 
B. F. Lucas. William B. Laughead. John Morford, James R. 
Mitchell. George Mitchell. David Mclntire. J. L. McCampbell. 
Jeff Mahaffey. Jacob Nonnemaker. D. G. Robinson. Delmore 
Robinson. C. L. Robinson. J. B. Robinson, George Ruehlen, 
David Shinneman. James Smith. George Stokes. Atlas Perkins. 
David O. Taylor. Daniel Taylor. David W'ise. William Wise 
and Samuel Wise. 

In this company were twenty-seven who had been students 
at the Select School. Seventeen of the original members were 
killed or died of wounds or disease, and of those who lost their 
lives in the service nine were students in the Select School. 

A company was organized at Plain City. Ohio, for the first 
three months' service, in which twenty-nine Jerome Township 
soldiers served. The company was assigned as Company G. 
ITth Ohio \'olunteer Infantry. At the expiration of their 
term of service, every one of them re-enlisted in other regi- 
ments, as did those w'ho served in the 13th Ohio X'olunteer 
Infantry, first three months' service. The first and only full 
company recruited in the township was organized at the village 
of Jerome, under the first call for three years' service, and 
went into camp in August, 186L The company was assigned 
as Company E, 30th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
Other detachments enlisting in the first call for three years' 
service were assigned in the First Ohio Cavalry, the 13th, 
32nd. -10th. 4Gth. 54th. and 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
During the years 1862, 1863, 1864, and until the close of the 
war, every quota assigned to the township was filled, and they 
served in the following designated organizations : 

Cavalry Regiments. 

1st Ohio \'olunteer Cavalry _ 2 

12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry 



History of Jerome Township 77 

Infantry Regiments. 

13th, 17th, 30th, 32nd, 34th, 40th, 46th, 54th, 
58th, 63rd, 66th, 82nd, 8oth, 86th, 88th, 94th, 
95th, 96th, 110th, 113th, 121st, 128th, 129th, 
133rd, 136th, 145th, 174th, 186th, 187th, 181st, 

197th, 27th U. S. C T., 18th U. S. 1 33 

47th U. S. C. T. 

7th Ohio Independent Sharpshooters — 1 

10th Ohio Battery, Light Artillery 1 

U. S. Signal Corps _ _.. 1 

9th Minnesota Infantry _ _ 1 

Indiana Infantry _ _ _.. 1 

United States Navy _ 1 

Squirrel Hunters _ 1 — 7 

A total of _ - - 42 

In the year 1864 an organization was formed of prominent 
citizens who were not eligible, by reason of age or disability, 
for military service, to pay bounties to the boys who were 
willing to enter the service. A large amount of money was 
contributed voluntarily for that purpose, and in some instances 
several hundred dollars were paid to each volunteer. Samuel 
B. Woodburn was treasurer of the association, and among 
other prominent members were A. H. McCampbell, John Mc- 
Campbell, John K. Dodge, Thomas Jones, James Roney, Wm. 
Thompson, Joseph Cole, John Curry, Albert Chapman, James 
Mitchell, and many others. There was scarcely a family in the 
township that did not have someone in the Army of the Union, 
and there was continuous recruiting. The people thought, 
talked, and read of but little else than the means of prosecut- 
ing the war to a successful end. 

To write the history of the services of the soldiers of 
Jerome Township who served in forty-two regiments and 
other organizations, would be to write the history of every 
great campaign along the battle lines from the Atlantic Ocean 
to the Mississippi River, for some of them participated in 
almost every great battle of the war. As an evidence of that 



78 History of Jerome Tozi'iisJiip 

fact the reader has only to peruse the brief history of each 
organization in this volume. They fought at Gettysburg, and 
Chickamauga, the two greatest battles of the war. Some of 
them were at Aantietam, Vicksburg, Shiloh, the Wilderness, 
Stone River, Port Republic, Seven Pines, Lookout Moun- 
tain. One hundred days under fire, from Chattanooga to At- 
lanta. They marched with General Sherman's Army to the 
Sea. They were in the greatest cavalry expedition of the war, 
under General James H. Wilson, through Alabama and Geor- 
gia. Were in the saddle when the war closed. 

Those in the navy were at Fort Henry and Fort Donald- 
son. Some of them participated in the great review at Wash- 
ington. 

But a brief history can be given in the limited space in this 
little volume of each organization, and much time has been 
devoted to securing the data for enlistment, discharge or death 
of each soldier. Only the time and place of muster-in of each 
of the different organizations, with a short history of their 
campaigns, battles, losses and date of muster-out, is given. 
Great pains have been taken to get correct dates and statistics 
as to the true history of the service of each organization. The 
regiments of long service and hard campaigns made more his- 
tory and are entitled to more extended notice, but the mem- 
bers of all organizations are entitled to full credit, for they 
all did their duty in whatever capacity they served. The ma- 
jority of them were boys and usually enlisted at the first 
opportunity, not knowing where or what the service of the 
organization to which they were assigned would be. It was 
only "their's to obey." 

THE BOYS OF '61. 

BY W. L. CURRY. 

At the call of their country our boys of Jerome 
Marched away to the sound of the bugle and drum ; 
In the flush of their youth went the manly and brave. 
To stand by the banner our forefathers gave ; 
How many? Three hundred — our heroes in blue, 



History of Jerome Township 79 

They showed to the world how their hearts could be true. 

Did they all come back from the dark' battle lines ? 

Nay — four score are sleeping 'neath the shade of the pines. 

Go look for their deeds on the 'scutcheon of fame; 
Go read in the sunlight each glorious name ; 
Old Round Top is crowned with their glory today, 
And Shiloh's invested with splendor for aye ; 
Where bravely they struggled and died for the free, 
Chickamauga flows on with a song to the sea; 
And other proud fields have extended a crown 
To the boys of Jerome — our sons of renown. 

They came from the battle all shattered and torn, 
Not as they went forth in the flush of the morn; 
Their standards were riddled with shot and with shell, 
But their war-drums had sounded rebellion's death-knell. 
Their ranks were depleted, their comrades afar 
Slept peacefully under the Southern star; 
But proudly erect marched the immortal few — 
Our heroes, each man in his garments of blue. 

Who hailed them ? A nation they'd saved by their might. 

And planted fore'er on the ramparts of Right. 

The welcome was great that came after the strife — 

The kiss of the mother, the sweetheart, the wife; 

The drum became silent, the bugle was still, 

They echoed no more on the red battle hill ; 

And the Angel of Peace, with her pinions outspread, 

Looked down on the living and wept for the dead. 

The land that we love honors still every son 
Who rushed to its aid at the flash of the gun ; 
On many a field seeks the column the sky. 
Enriched with a record that never can die; 
So long as our banner invincible waves, 
Memorials will rise to the worth of our braves; 
And ever the country to which we are true 
Will laurel the brow of our soldiers in blue. 



80 History of Jerome Township 

FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY — THREE 
YEARS' SERVICE. 

A company of the First Ohio Cavalry was recruited at 
Plain City, Ohio, under the first call for three years' troops, 
and was assigned as Company K of that regiment, organized 
at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the summer of 1861. Twelve Jerome 
Township soldiers served in this company, three of whom died 
in the service — James S. Ewing, Presley E. Goff, and Benja- 
min F. Lucas ; and five — James Cutler, W. L. Curry, San- 
ford P. Clark, Presley E. Goff, and Alanson Sessler — were 
prisoners of war. 

As the writer served in this regiment and has personal 
knowledge of the campaigns and battles in which they par- 
ticipated, it is hoped that the reader may have charity and 
overlook any seeming overestimated distinguished services of 
the regiment. It is a hard task to condense in a page or two 
the record of the services of a regiment which served four 
years and participated in many decisive battles. 

The company left Plain City September 8th, 1861, going 
across the country in carriages and wagons, to Camp Chase. 
A few days later the election for commissioned officers was 
held and Dr. T. W. Forshee of Madison County was elected 
Captain ; Dr. James Cutler of Jerome Township, First Lieu- 
tenant ; A. H. McCurdy of Morrow County, Second Lieuten- 
ant ; and W. L. Curry was appointed Orderly Sergeant. 

The regiment was fully equipped and mustered into the 
U. S. service October 5th, 1861, with twelve companies, under 
Colonel Orin P. Ransom, an officer of the Regular Army; 
Lieutenant Colonel T. C. H. Smith, and Major Minor Millikin. 

The regiments that were so fortunate as to get a Regular 
officer for a Colonel were usually well organized, and that was 
the case in the First Ohio. We had a great contempt for our 
Colonel in the beginning, as he was a regular martinet, but 
when we got into the field we had a very high regard for him, 
as he at once inaugurated strict military discipline, and, as the 
boys said, "brought the officers to time." organized an officers' 
school, and looked after the smallest details of clothing, ra- 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 81 

tions and all things that pertained to the comfort of his men ; 
systematically examined for himself all clothing, equipments 
and food before allowing them to be issued, and whatever was 
poor in quality or short in quantity he rejected with good 
round oaths and with a savage threat of arrest to the quarter- 
master or commissary. 

Of the commissioned officers of the regiment, four attained 
the grade of Colonel, five of Lieutenant Colonel, sixteen of 
Major, four of Surgeon, two Assistant Surgeon, one Chaplain, 
forty-six of Captain, and one hundred and twenty-nine of 
Lieutenant, making in all two hundred and seven commissions. 
There being originally twelve Captains, thirty-four Lieuten- 
ants were promoted to the rank of Captain. There were but 
four officers in the regiment at the close of the war that were 
commissioned at the organization, all the other officers remain- 
ing in the regiment at the close of the war' having been pro- 
moted from the ranks. Of the Colonels of the regiment. Ran- 
som resigned, Millikin was killed at Stone River, Smith was 
promoted to Brigadier-General, and Eggleston was also pro- 
moted to Brigadier-General. Colonel Cupp was killed at 
Chickamauga, Major Moore and Lieutenant Condit were 
killed at Stone River. Captain Emery and Captain Scott were 
killed in action, as was Lieutenant Allen. Although we de- 
nounced Colonel Ransom as an "old martinet and tyrant," we 
soon learned to respect him as a disciplinarian, and before the 
end of our service, blessed his memory for the strict discip- 
line inaugurated when we first went into camp. 

The large per cent of the boys recruited in the regiment 
were farmers, and as in that day a great deal of horseback 
riding was done, many of our men were, as the saying goes, 
"raised on a horse's back" and were fine horsemen. To be an 
accomplished rider it must be learned when the person is 
young and at the age when he has a certain amount of reck- 
lessness and has no fear. A person that is timid and has no 
confidence in his ability to control his horse can never become 
a good rider. 

The men were accustomed to caring for horses and under- 



82 History of Jerome Township 

stood feeding, grooming and saddling, and did not have these 
duties to learn after enlisting. Many of the men brought 
their own horses to camp and owned them throughout the war 
and received 40 cents a day from the Government for their 
service. The men who owned their own mounts usually had 
the best horses and cared for them best, as they had a pecuni- 
ary interest and also understood the care of horses. 

While no soldier can become a good cavalryman unless he 
is a good horseman, we soon learned that the service of a 
cavalryman, with all its many attractions, was at all times 
laborious, and while he might be a good rider he had many 
other duties to learn and perform. 

The trooper has his carbine to care for and keep in order, 
which evens him up with the infantryman in care of arms and 
equipments, and in addition to this he has his revolver, saber 
and horse equipments to keep in order, and his horse to water, 
feed and groom every day, and the soldier who enlists in the 
cavalry service expecting a "soft snap" will soon learn, to his 
sorrow, that he has been laboring under a grievous mistake. 

On a campaign or march in good weather, when it is not 
necessary to pitch tents at night, the infantry stack arms, get 
supper, and are soon at rest or asleep ; but not so with the 
cavalryman. The company must first put up the picket rope, 
and then the horses must be watered, fed and groomed. If 
there is no forage for his horse in the wagon train he must 
hunt for it, and perhaps go a mile or two in the search. Then 
he unsaddles, gets his coffee, grooms his horse, and is ready 
to lie down an hour after the infantryman is asleep. In the 
morning, if the cavalry are to move at the same hour as the 
infantry are to march, they must have reveille an hour earlier 
than the infantry, to have time to feed, groom and water the 
horses ; and while he has the advantage on the march, it would 
not be considered by the average citizen a very easy task to 
march forty, fifty or even sixty miles a day mounted, which 
was a usual occurrence on our scouts and raids. 

Captain Forshee and Lieutenant McCurdy both resigned in 



History of Jerome Township 83 

June, 1862, when the command of the company devolved upon 
Lieutenant James Cutler. 

On the 9th day of December, 1861, the regiment broke 
camp, marched through the capital and embarked on their 
first campaign, from which many comrades were destined 
never again to return. Arrived at Cincinnati at daybreak the 
next morning, the regiment took boats and reached Louisville, 
Ky., on the morning of the 11th, the first regiment of cavalry 
to enter that department save Wol ford's Kentucky regiment, 
and, quoting from Reid's history : "The First Ohio was the 
nucleus of that host of cavalry which, under the leadership of 
Stanley, Crook, Mitchell, McCook, Kilpatrick, Long, Minty, 
Millikin and Wilson, achieved such triumphs for the country 
and fame for themselves." 

''The history of the cavalry of the Southwest — its fearless 
rides, its daring raids, its bloody charges, its long nights of 
weary marching, as it carried desolation and destruction into 
the very heart of treason — is a record of heroic achievements 
unsurpassed in the annals of that service." 

The regiment remained in camp at Louisville until January 
16th, 1862, then marched to Lebanon, Ky., and was in camp at 
Lebanon and Bardstown until about the last of February. 
During all the winter months the regiment was busy drilling 
and scouting, and had a few skirmishes with General John 
Morgan's cavalry. 

About the last of February the regiment marched to Louis- 
ville and embarked on steamers for Nashville, Tenn. March 
14th they made a dash in the night as the advance of General 
Buell's army to save the bridge across Duck River at Colum- 
bia. They marched with Buell's army through rain and mud 
to the relief of General Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, 
arriving opposite the battlefield on the Tennessee River the 
evening the battle closed, but too late to take part in the battle 
fought April 6th and 7th, 1862. 

From April 8th to May 30th, during the siege of Corinth, 
Mississippi, the regiment was constantly on picket, scouting 
and skirmishing duty in front of the Confederate Army, and 



84 History of Jerome Township 

this was the first real hard service. After Corinth was evacu- 
ated, we followed the Confederate Army up, had some brisk 
fights and took many prisoners. 

In June, moved east along the Memphis & Charleston Rail- 
road with Buell's army, toward Chattanooga, and participated 
in the great countermarch of the army through Tennessee and 
Kentucky to Louisville. They participated in the battle of 
Perrysville, Ky., October 8th; was in the advance to Nashville 
and the Stone River campaign. 

In the battle of Stone River, Tenn., December 31st, 1862, 
in making a saber charge Colonel Minor Millikin, Major D. 
A. B. Moore and Lieutenant Condit were killed. Adjutant 
William Scott and Captain S. W. Fordyce were wounded, and 
the regiment lost heavily. From the battle of Stone River 
until June, 1863, the regiment was employed in scouting and 
patroling, watching the movements of the enemy. Captain 
Cutler having resigned, W. L. Curry, a prisoner of war, was 
promoted to a Lieutenancy and had command of Company K. 
The regiment advanced from Murfreesboro with General 
Rosecran's army June 24th, and had some shart fights in driv- 
ing the enemy through the mountain passes to Chattanooga. 
In August Lieutenant Curry was transferred to the command 
of Company M. 

In the advance on Chattanooga the First Ohio, under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Cupp, crossed the Tennessee 
River September 2nd, and was conspicuous in the expedition 
under General Stanley in the attempt to cut the railroad south 
of Chattanooga. After a severe encounter with a large force 
of the enemy near Lafayette, Ga., it passed up the Chattanooga 
Valley, reached the battlefield of Chickamauga early on the 
morning of September 20th, and lost heavily in the engagement 
of that day. Colonel Cupp was killed while forming the regi- 
ment for a charge. Of the 900 men composing the Second 
Brigade, 134 were killed and wounded. 

After falling back to Chattanooga, the troops were allowed 
no rest, but on the 26th of September started on the famous 
raid driving Wheeler's cavalry from Washington, Tenn., to 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 85 

Muscle Shoals, Ala., taking more than 1,000 prisoners and 
several pieces of artillery. 

The regiment then returned to Chattanooga and took part 
in the assault on Mission Ridge, where William Johnson of 
Company K was killed. After the battle of Mission Ridge 
the First moved to the relief of Burnsides, at Knoxville, being 
the first regiment to reach that city, having several skirmishes 
on the way and capturing many prisoners. 

On the 16th of December a detachment of the regiment 
made a brilliant charge at Calhoun upon a rebel brigade com- 
manded by General Wheeler, sweeping them from the field and 
taking many prisoners. 

January 4th, 1864, about 400 members of the regiment 
reenlisted at Pulaski, Tenn., as veterans for "three years, or 
during the war," and were given a furlough for thirty days. 

After the veteran furlough, during which time many 
recruits joined the regiment, we were remounted at Nashville, 
Tenn., and May 22nd started on the march to join General 
Sherman's army and arrived at Rome, Ga., about the first of 
June, after having had several skirmishes while marching on 
the flank of the 17th Army Corps. 

The regiment participated in the "One Hundred Days 
under fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta," was continuously 
scouting and raiding, and was a part of the two divisions of 
cavalry commanded by General Kilpatrick which made a raid 
around the Confederate Army during the siege of Atlanta in 
August, 1864. 

After the surrender of Atlanta, September 1st, and while 
General Sherman was organizing for his "March to the Sea," 
the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky.. was remounted 
and joined the army of General George H. Thomas at Nash- 
ville, Tenn. After the victory at Nashville the cavalry corps 
under General James H. Wilson rendezvoused at Gravelly 
Springs, Alabama, until March, 1865. General Wilson, having 
organized a cavalry corps of 12,000 veteran cavalrymen, cut 
his way down through Alabama and Georgia, capturing the 
fortified city of Selma, Alabama, April 2nd, 1865, with 2,700 



86 History of Jerome Township 

prisoners, including 150 officers, and in addition 2,000 cavalry 
horses, 72 siege guns, 26 field guns, and 66,000 rounds of artil- 
lery ammunition, gaining a complete victory over General 
Forrest's forces. 

The last fight of the regiment was at Columbus, Ga., which 
was taken by a saber charge April 15th, 1865. 

A detachment of the First Cavalry, under command of 
Captain J. O. Yeoman, was with the command that captured 
the President of the Confederacy. 

The regiment garrisoned Georgia and South Carolina from 
April to September, then returned to Ohio and was mustered 
out at Camp Chase on the 28th of September, 1865, after four 
years' hard service, Company K having lost twelve who died 
in hospital, nine killed, twelve wounded, and ten taken prisoner 
— making a total loss of forty-three. 

The First Ohio Cavalry carried on its muster rolls nearly 
1,800 names and mustered out at Camp Chase 701 men. The 
regiment marched 11,490 miles and fought in the States of 
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and 
North Carolina. The losses in killed, died of wounds and dis- 
ease were 204. Upward of 200 were wounded, 130 were pris- 
oners of war, and the total casualties were five hundred and 
thirty-five. 

As shown by the official records, the regiment participated 
in fifty-one battles, fights and skirmishes. 

TWELFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY — THREE 
YEARS' SERVICE. * 

The order for raising this regiment was issued August 
20th, 18G3. The companies, recruited in many counties in the 
State, rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, and the 
regiment was mustered into the United States service Novem- 
ber 24th, 1863, under Colonel Robert W. Ratliff, Lieutenant 
Colonel Robert H. Bentley, both of whom were brevetted 
Brigadier Generals. 

Five boys of Jerome Township were in this regiment — 

* Contributed by Jesse L. Cameron, who served in the regiment. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 87 

Nelson E. Adams, Wm. S. Channel, Isaac Carey, Philip Hawn 
and Daniel Heath. Channel and Heath both died in the 
service. 

While the organization was yet incomplete six companies 
were called to Johnson's Island to guard prisoners and meet, 
if need be, the threatened invasion of rebels from Canada, 
intent on releasing the 3,000 imprisoned rebel officers there. 
The companies thus employed were A, C, D, F, I, and L. The 
other companies were quartered at Camp Chase until Febru- 
ary, 1864, when the whole regiment was brought together at 
Camp Dennison. Here it was mounted, armed and vigorously 
drilled until the 2Tth day of March, when it started to the 
front and entered upon its memorable career. 

Its first duty was to assist General Burbridge in breaking 
up the armed bands of guerillas and bushwhackers in Ken- 
tucky. Scattering itself over that State, it soon became a ter- 
ror to marauders and rebel sympathizers, dispersed the guer- 
rillas and restored order. 

This task accomplished with commendable promptness, the 
Twelfth joined in an expedition against Saltville, Va. But 
after a toilsome journey of several days it was halted and 
turned about to make one of the most rapid marches known to 
warfare, traveling over 180 miles in fifty hours. It struck 
the rebel forces at Mt. Sterling, Ky., on the 9th of June, 1864, 
and gallantly led the charge. In this battle the regiment 
fought many times its number, but never for a moment 
wavered. At one time sixty men of the Third Battalion, 
mostly from Company C, fought a rebel regiment for thirty 
minutes, losing many precious lives, but holding its ground 
until help came. Of this devoted little band Union County 
furnished Joseph Smith, Hylas S. Moore and J. L. Cameron. 

For its gallantry the Twelfth was complimented at the 
close of the fight by General Burbridge, who remarked that 
it had saved the day for him. These laurels were dearly 
bought, for the loss of the regiment, all told, was 197 men. 

The battle lasted all day, and at night the regiment re- 
mained on the battlefield. Company C, chosen for special 



88 History of Jerome Toivuskip 

guard duty, got no rest. Three days' and nights' marching 
and fighting was now to be followed by a gallop of thirty- 
three miles to Lexington on the 10th; fresh horses drawn, and 
on to Paris, Ky., on the 11th. Waiting here for supplies and 
ammunition until evening, the regiment again mounted and 
moved forward for a night's march to Cynthiana. Early on 
the morning of the 12th of June, while darkness was yet so 
dense that the lurid jets of powder flame blazed from the 
carbines, the regiment was leading the charge again in battle, 
sustaining itself heroically, and gaining a complete victory in 
this engagement. On the 14th of June the regiment received 
the thanks and congratulations of President Lincoln and the 
Secretary of War, and was again complimented for its gal- 
lantry by the Commanding General. 

Again breaking into detachments, the Twelfth scattered 
over Kentucky, dispersing marauders and keeping order, until 
the month of September, when it concentrated at Mount Ster- 
ling and again started with General Burbridge's expedition to 
Saltville, Va. 

The expedition led over 300 miles without provision trains, 
tents or ambulances, was cause of much privation, and on the 
2nd of October was again at its accustomed place leading the 
advance into one of the most hotly contested battles of the war. 

The rebel fortifications were in the deep mountain gorges 
and rendered operations by mounted men impossible, yet, dis- 
mounted, the Twelfth made again and again its famous carbine 
charges and reaching well up to the enemy's works. All day 
long the battle raged in the mountain fastness, but toward the 
close of the day ammunition was exhausted and the rebel 
forces reinforced by 5,000 of General Early's fresh troops, 
and General Burbridge was compelled to abandon the expe- 
dition. A rapid retreat began, and as it still had ammunition. 
Company C was detailed a special guard for the rear, and 
many times during that disastrous, night and the following day 
did this devoted little band halt in the mountain passes and 
hold the pursuing foe in check while the retreating column 
hurried on. 




KOItKHT >lfl)0\> KM 

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JESSK IJ. MfDOAVELL 

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roltlMMt \l, JOHN tl. ADAM.S 

i.-t«;ih (>. V. I. 



History of Jerome Township 89 

Forty-nine men of the Twelfth lay dead or wounded on 
the field of battle on this eventful day. Returning to Lexing- 
ton, the regiment reorganized, drew fresh horses and supplies, 
and on the 10th of November was again in the saddle march- 
ing toward Cumberland Gap. 

Reaching that point on the 26th, scattering again, it was 
engaged for a short time destroying bands of marauders 
around Bean Station and Rodgersville. General Stoneman 
now took command, and being joined with General Gillem, the 
whole force, including the Twelfth, was, in the earlier part of 
December, marching in a third expedition against Saltville. 
On the morning of December 15th Kingsford was reached and 
a strong rebel force appeared on the opposite banks of the 
river. Halting his column, Stoneman sent Gillem to cross 
above and prepare for battle. The impatience of the Twelfth 
knew no bounds when in sight of the gray uniforms and 
eagerly they awaited the bugle sound to charge. That coming, 
with a wild yell they galloped through the water, which was 
up to the horses' joints, to the opposite bank. Opening a fire 
from carbines, and revolvers at short range, the enemy was 
for a moment confused, and General Gillem then coming up 
aided to complete the rout. 

Pursuit was given, and many of the enemy lay dead along 
the road as the Twelfth poured into their fleeing ranks volley 
after volley from their carbines. Hurrying forward, Bristol 
was reached just before day. The Yankees dashed in, and 
less than half an hour afterward Bristol, with all its immense 
stores, was ours. Halting to complete the destruction of the 
rebel supplies and tearing up the railroad, the column again 
pushed forward to Abington. At Abington Company F of the 
Twelfth, a special escort of General Burbridge, led the charge, 
the regiment following, and that place was taken, with a large 
number of prisoners and immense military supplies. 

Pushing on, the column struck the army of the rebels under 
General Vaughn, which soon broke in confusion, and the boys 
of the regiment joined in a headlong chase of five miles, with 
drawn sabers. Many pieces of artillery were taken here. 

7 



90 History of Jerome Tozcnship 

Without halting the troops pushed on, and on the 12th 
the regiment had the grim satisfaction of leading the charge 
into Saltville, capturing the place where so many prisoners 
were lost a few months previous. Every vestige of the place 
was destroyed. At the close of the day, on the 17th, a des- 
perate battle was fought with the troops of Breckenridge and 
Vaughn, near Marion. 

Returning from this raid, the regiment collected at Lexing- 
ton to draw fresh horses and close up the broken ranks. Scat- 
tering again, it was a short time doing general patrol duty and 
looking after rebel sympathizers and bushrangers in Ken- 
tucky. Coming together again the last of February at Louis- 
ville, Ky., the whole joined Stoneman's command and em- 
barked for Nashville by river. On through to Murfreesboro 
and thence to Knoxville. where a veteran brigade was formed 
by uniting the Twelfth Ohio, Fifteenth Pennsylvania, and 
Tenth Michigan Cavalries. On the 20th of March this bri- 
gade was in motion marching out to Strawberry Plains, then 
on through Bulls Gap, Jonesboro to Yakin River. The stream 
was badly swollen, and several comrades drowned. Uriah 
Jolly was rescued here by Comrade Cameron. 

Pausing a short time to close up the ranks, the forces swept 
on, galloping through Jacksonville, on the line of the Virginia 
& Tennessee Railroad at Christiansbury. This road was torn 
up and destroyed for many miles. Sweeping down into North 
Carolina, the Danville & Richmond Railroad was struck and 
destroyed for a great distance. 

Hastening on, the troops brought up before Salisbury. A 
rebel force under Pemberton, with several pieces of artillery, 
came out to defend the town. Scarcely halting, the Twelfth 
led the charge, and in spite of all opposition Salisbury was 
soon in flames, many Union prisoners released, and immense 
quantities of military stores consigned to the flames. On the 
17th of April the regiment marched on to Lincolnton. which 
place was captured by a charge led by Company C of the 
Twelfth, under Lieutenant Stewart. Two hundred picked 
men. under Major Moderwell, were now chosen to march 



History of Jerome Toivnship 91 

eighty miles to the Catawba River crossing and destroy the 
bridge of the Charlotte & South CaroHna Railroad. On the 
morning of the 30th they came across the forces of Vaughn 
and Duke. Sweeping down upon them, they cut their way 
through, captured thirty-five prisoners, a large quantity of 
small arms and two pieces of cannon and some seven officers 
and 223 men. Paroling the prisoners on the spot, the com- 
mand returned to Dallas, Company C having some wounded, 
but not fatally. On the 23rd the regiment started for Knox- 
ville, but learning that President Lincoln had been assassinated 
they joined in a headlong chase after Davis. They finally re- 
turned to Sweetwater, Tenn., thence on to McMinnville, 
thence to Nashville, and on the 24th of November the regi- 
ment was discharged. Of 1,462 men, only 628 remained. As 
shown by the official records, the losses in the regiment, killed, 
died of wounds and disease, were one hundred and sixty-four. 

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.— THREE 
MONTHS AND THREE YEARS. 

The Thirteenth Ohio was organized at Camp Jackson, 
Columbus, Ohio, in April, 1861, for the first three months' 
service, under the command of A. S. Piatt as Colonel ; C. B. 
Mason. Lieutenant Colonel, and J. G. Hawkins, Major. 
Colonel Piatt was soon succeeded by Colonel W. S. Smith, 
who was appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers in May, 
1862, and Colonel J. G. Hawkins of Union County assumed 
command of the regiment. 

The regiment was reorganized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, 
for three years' service, in May and June, 1861, before leaving 
the State. 

The months of May and June were spent in drill and dis- 
cipline at Camp Dennison, and in July the regiment joined 
General McClellan's forces, then operating in Western Vir- 
ginia. In the battle at Carnifex Ferry, September 10th, its 
courage and discipline were tested and not found wanting. 

On the 13th of December it joined General Buell's army in 



92 History of Jerome Township 

Kentucky, where it remained in camp until February, 1862. 
It formed the advance of Buell's forces on Nashville. 

On the 10th of March the regiment was ordered to report 
to General Crittenden. On the 19th Companies A and G were 
detached to assist in repairing bridges on the Alabama and 
Tennessee Rivers, and on April 2nd the remaining companies, 
under command of Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins, joined the 
column on the march to reenforce General Grant at Pittsburg 
Landing. 

The scene of action was reached on the 6th, and the regi- 
ment immediately moved forward to meet the foe. In a des- 
perate struggle with the Washington Battery of New Orleans 
the Thirteenth captured it entire. The enemy, having re- 
treated, the Thirteenth joined in the investment of Corinth, 
and after the evacuation moved with Buell's army to Chat- 
tanooga. 

In the meantime Bragg had left Chattanooga and was on 
his way to Louisville, Ky., with designs on Ohio and Indiana. 
Then commenced the "never-to-be-forgotten" march of the 
Army of the Ohio. From this time until the advance on Mur- 
freesboro the regiment was constantly employed in foraging, 
picket duty and skirmishing. 

On the 26th day of December the advance commenced and 
arrived at Stone River on the evening of the 29th. On 
Wednesday, December 31st, the Thirteenth, under Colonel J. 
G. Hawkins, assisted in the rescue of a train that was about 
to be captured by the rebel cavalry. A few hours later the 
terrible but brief struggle commenced with cost the regiment 
142 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. It was in 
this engagement that Colonel Hawkins was killed. On Janu- 
ary 2nd, 18G3, the Thirteenth again participated in the fight- 
ing, and on the morning of the 3rd, Murfreesboro was evacu- 
ated and the enemy retreating. During this series of battles 
the regiment lost 185 officers and men. 

On June 24th the line of march was resumed, and the 
army moved southward. It took an active part in the battle 
of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th. It joined the advance 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 93 

to the relief of Knoxville and pursued the enemy across the 
Holstein River to Dandridge, twenty-five miles from the North 
Carolina line, then returned to Knoxville. In January, 1864, 
about three-fourths of the Thirteenth reenlisted for another 
three years, and after the furlough home promptly reassembled 
at Camp Chase and returned in a body to Chattanooga. 

In May, 1864, the regiment entered upon the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and after some hard skirmishing gained possession of 
Tunnel Hill. Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, driving the enemy 
into the fortifications at Resaca. In the assault upon Lost 
Mountain on the 27th of May the Thirteenth took a promi- 
nent part. 

The forces, unable to make any impression on the enemy's 
works, were withdrawn, the regiment losing on this occasion 
fifty killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 9th of June it 
went into camp at Acworth, keeping up a continuous skirmish 
with the retreating enemy. 

About this time the term of enlistment of the non-veterans 
expired. The veterans of the regiment were consolidated into 
a battalion of four companies, to be called the Thirteenth Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry Battalion. It participated in the engage- 
ments at Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy, then went 
into camp six miles north of Atlanta. On the 4th of October 
the battalion joined in the pursuit of Hood into Tennessee. 
Encountering the enemy at Franklin, a severe struggle ensued, 
in which the National troops were again successful. On De- 
cember 3rd the Thirteenth Battalion entered Nashville, and 
from this time until the battles of the loth and 16th. in a 
charge made by the Third Brigade, the Thirteenth was among 
the first over the works and assisted in the capture of four 
guns. After the defeat at Nashville the Confederate Army 
retreated rapidly and the battalion remained quietly in camp 
at Huntsville, Ala. 

On the 16th of June, 1865, the Thirteenth, with the Four- 
teenth Corps, was ordered to Texas, where it remained in 
service until December 5th, 1865. Returning to Ohio, it was 
discharged at Columbus January 17th. 18G6, having served 



94 History of Jerome Township 

four years and nine months and participated in many decisive 
battles. Colonel Joseph G. Hawkins of Union County, a 
brave and distinguished officer, was killed at the battle of 
Stone River, Tennessee, December 31st, 1862. 

One company of the 13th was recruited in Union County 
for the three months' service, of which Joseph Hawkins was 
the first Captain, and James D. Bain and Harvey S. Wood of 
Jerome Township serv^ed in that company, assigned as Com- 
pany F. On reorganization for three years' service Captain 
Hawkins was promoted to Major and J. D. Smith and Jere- 
miah Slocum both served as Captains of this company. 

Captain Reason R. Henderson of Union County was 
severely wounded in the battle of Shiloh. Tenn., April 7th, 
1862, and was discharged by reason of his wounds September 
10th. In the new regiments being organized there was a great 
demand for experienced soldiers to officer these organizations. 
Captain Henderson was immediately appointed Major of the 
121st Regiment, O. V. I. He was a good disciplinarian, a fine 
drill master, and rendered efficient service until again com- 
pelled to leave the army on account of his wounds. 

David O. Taylor of Jerome Township was killed at the 
battle of Dallas. Ga., May 27th, 1864, and the total loss in 
the regiment, killed and died of wounds and disease, was 221. 
Of the 160 men who enlisted in this regiment from Union 
County the loss in killed and wounded or by disease was forty- 
five. 

SEVENTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE MONTHS. 

The 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry three months' service 
was organized at Camp Anderson. Lancaster. Ohio, and was 
mustered into the U. S. service April 27th, 1861, under com- 
mand of Colonel John McConnell. 

The regiment was immediately ordered to \'irginia and up 
to July had some skirmishing with guerillas and was employed 
guarding provision trains in the vicinity of Buckhannon and 
Sutton. On the 3rd of July they were ordered to Zanesville, 



History of Jerome Tozviiship 95 

Ohio, and were mustered out of the U. S. service August 15th, 
1861. at Camp Goddard. During their service the loss was 
three men — one by drowning and two by disease. As shown 
by the official record, twenty-nine Jerome Township soldiers 
served in Company G of this regiment, organized at Plain City 
and commanded by Captain Thomas J. Haynes. 

It was one of the first regiments to respond to the call of 
President Lincoln for 75,000 men. Every soldier of Jerome 
Township who served in this regiment reenlisted in the three 
years' service and a number of them were killed or died in 
the army. Jerome Township furnished her full quota under 
the first call, and every call thereafter. The 17th Regiment 
organized for three years had a distinguished service and 
served in the Army of the Cumberland throughout the war, 
participating in many decisive battles, but it seems that no 
Jerome Township soldiers served in that regiment. The 
losses by death were 232 in the three years' service. 

THIRTIETH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry is named as one of the 
three hundred fighting regiments, and is well entitled to that 
honor for distinguished service. 

Company E of the 30th Ohio Infantry was organized by 
Captain Elijah Warner at Jerome, Union County, Ohio, in the 
month of August, 18G1, and marched thence to Camp Chase, 
a distance of twenty miles, where it arrived on the 19th day 
of August. On the 29th the company was mustered into the 
United States service, with the following commissioned offi- 
cers : Elijah Warner, Captain ; Henry R. Brinkerhoflf, First 
Lieutenant, and Henry Hensel, Second Lieutenant. 

On the 30th the regiment was ordered into the field, and 
on the 2nd of September arrived at Clarksburg. W. Va., then 
moved forward to Weston, where it received its first outfit of 
camp and garrison equipage. On September 6th the regiment 
joined General Rosecrans at Sutton Heights, leaving four com- 
panies — D, F. G, and I — at this place and two — C and E — at 



96 History of Jerome Township 

Big Birch Bottom. The remainder of the regiment moved 
forward and on the evening of the 10th discerned the enemy 
near Gawley River, at Carnifex Ferry, where a sharp encoun- 
ter ensued. Night coming on, ended the battle. Early on 
the following morning it was discovered that the enemy had 
evacuated their position and retraced across the river. 

Colonel Ewing was the first man to enter the deserted forti- 
fications. He found, amid a multitude of camp and garrison 
spoils, two fine French dress swords, one bearing the coat of 
arms of Napoleon I, and a stand of colors bearing the follow- 
ing inscription: 

" Floyd's Brigade." 
" The Price of Liberty is the Blood of the Brave." 

The regiment was mustered into the United States service 
at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 28th day of August, 1861, for 
three years, under Colonel John Groesbeck, who was soon 
succeeded by Colonel Hugh Ewing. The regiment served in 
West Virginia in detachments until August, 1862. On the 
16th of that month the regiment started to join the army in 
Eastern \'irginia. The right wing reported for duty at Gen- 
eral Pope's headquarters on the 26th, and after the engage- 
ment at Centerville the left wing joined the right, having been 
under fire but not engaged with the musketry in the battle at 
this place. 

On the 2nd of September the regiment was relieved from 
duty at General Pope's headquarters and joined its brigade — 
the First — at Upton Hills. On the 7th it moved to Frederick 
City, Md., and on the 14th arrived at South Mountain, where 
a severe struggle with the enemy took place, with a loss of 
eighteen men killed and forty-eight wounded. In this engage- 
ment Company E suffered most severely, having one killed 
and six wounded. 

In the battle of Antietam the Thirtieth, lacking proper 
support, was thrown back into slight confusion and compelled 
to fall back. It lost three officers killed and two wounded, 
eight men killed and thirty-seven wounded. The National 
colors were torn in fourteen places by the enemy's balls, and 



History of Jerome Township 97 

two color-bearers, Sergeants Carter and Nathan J. White, fell 
dead on the field. A stand of colors was rescued on this occa- 
sion by David McKim of Company E. 

On the 10th of October the Thirtieth moved into West 
Virginia, and on the 13th of November went into camp near 
Cannelton. A few weeks later it started on a march into 
Logan County, returning with seventeen prisoners and sev- 
enty-five horses. In January, 1863, it moved down the Ohio 
and Mississippi to join General Grant's army, and on arriving 
at Helena, Ark., was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second 
Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. On the 21st it landed 
at Young's Point, and for a few weeks worked on the canal 
at that place. In March it moved to the relief of a gunboat 
in Steel's Bayou, returning to Young's Point on the 28th. 

On the 29th of April the regiment embarked on the R. B. 
Hamilton, and with other troops engaged in a demonstration 
on Haines' Bluffs. In May it joined in the movement upon 
Vicksburg, and from the 20th until the surrender of this 
stronghold the regiment was constantly engaged either in 
fatigue or picket duty or in assaulting the enemy's works. 
The loss of the Thirtieth during the siege was one commis- 
sioned officer killed and six wounded, six men killed and forty- 
eight wounded. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regi- 
ment pursued Johnson to Jackson, and upon the evacuation 
of that place returned and went into camp at Black River. 

On the 26th of September it moved with Sherman via 
Memphis to Chattanooga, and on the 25th of October partici- 
pated in the assault upon Mission Ridge, losing thirty-nine 
men killed and wounded. 

In November the Thirtieth followed in pursuit of the re- 
treating rebels, returning to Bridgeport, Ala., on the 19th of 
December. During this time the men were compelled to sub- 
sist off the country, with the exception of two days' rations 
issued on the 29th day of November. 

In January, 1864, the regiment reenlisted, and after the 
furlough home joined Sherman's forces at Kingston, Ga., on 
the 20th day of May. On the 23rd it started on the march 



98 History of Jerome Township 

through Dallas and Acworth, and on the 19th of June arrived 
at the foot of Kenesavv Mountain. During this march the 
Thirtieth was almost continuously under fire. It took an ac- 
tive part in the battle on the 26th. losing thirty-five men killed 
and wounded. On July 2nd the regiment moved toward At- 
lanta, and on the 22nd was attacked and thrown into some 
confusion at first, but soon rallied and succeeded in repulsing 
the enemy, not, however, without considerable loss. On the 
28th the regiment gallantly stood its ground and resisted four 
successive attacks of the enemy, losing thirty men killed and 
wounded. Under its fire the foe forsook a stand of colors 
and in its immediate front 105 dead rebels were found. 

The Thirtieth was transferred to the First Brigade on the 
5th of August, and on the 29th the non-veterans were mus- 
tered out. On the 31st the rebels attacked the line of the 
First Brigade, but were repulsed, the Thirtieth losing in this 
encounter twenty-five men killed and wounded. 

On the 2nd of September Jonesboro was evacuated by the 
enemy, the regiment pursuing them to Lovejoy's Station. 
After spending several weeks in camp at East Point, the Thir- 
tieth followed in pursuit of Hood's army into Alabama, re- 
turned to Atlanta, then marched to Fort McAllister and took 
part in the successful assault on that place. 

After the fall of Savannah the regiment passed through the 
Carolinas, having a sharp engagement with Johnson at Ben- 
tonville, and frequent skirmishes with the enemy. It arrived 
at Goldsboro March 24th, 1865 ; then proceeded to Raleigh on 
the 14th of April, and aided in the capture of Johnson's army. 

The Thirtieth marched to Washington via Richmond, and 
after passing in review, moved to Louisville, Ky., and thence 
to Little Rock, Ark. Here the regiment remained in camp 
until mustered out August 21st, 1865, having participated in 
twenty engagements and having its colors shot in almost every 
battle. 

The regiment had a most remarkable service, as it partici- 
pated in great battles in the States of X'irginia, Mississippi, 
Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina. They 



History of Jerome Tozvnshif 99 

marched and were transported by water and railroads several 
thousand miles. 

Of the commanders of the regiment, Colonel John Groes- 
beck was transferred to the 39th O. V. I. ; Colonel Hugh 
Ewing and Colonel Theodore Jones were both promoted to 
Brigadier-Generals ; Lieutenant Henry Brinkerhoff was pro- 
moted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Mississippi Regi- 
ment, U. S. C. T. He remained in the Regular Army after 
the close of the war, had a long and honorable service, and 
was retired with the rank of Colonel but a few years ago. 

Captain Elijah Warner was promoted to Major and James 
D. Bain was promoted to the Captaincy of Company E. 

The total losses in the regiment, killed, died of wounds and 
disease, as shown by the official record, were two hundred and 
seventy-seven. 

One hundred and two soldiers served in Company E of 
Jerome Township, and the loss, killed and died of wounds and 
disease, was thirty-two, or about 33 per cent of the total en- 
listments. Many others were wounded and a number were 
prisoners of war. 

32ND REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 32nd Ohio Infantry was organized during the summer 
of 1861, under Colonel T. C. Ford, and was one of the first 
regiments to answer the call of the President for three years' 
service. 

Company B of this regiment was recruited in Union and 
Champaign Counties, and was mustered into the service at 
Camp Chase August 9th, 1861, with the following commis- 
sioned officers: W. A. Palmer, Captain; A. B. Parmeter, 
First Lieutenant, and J. B. Whelpley, Second Lieutenant. It 
joined the regiment at Camp Bartley, near Mansfield. 

Four soldiers of Jerome Township served in Company B 
of this regiment — John P. McDowell, Robert N. McDowell, 
John B. Robinson and Henry M. Converse. Robert N. Mc- 
Dowell died in the service, and John P. McDowell and John 



100 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

B. Robinson reenlisted as veterans and served until July 20th, 
1865, participating in all the campaigns and battles of the regi- 
ment for four years and until the last shot was fired. 

After remaining a short time at Camp Bartley the regi- 
ment v^as transferred to Camp Dennison, where it was 
equipped, armed and ordered to the front, joining the Union 
forces at Cheat Mountain Summit, West Virginia, on the 3rd 
of October. In December it accompanied General Milroy in 
the movement on Camp Alleghany, losing on this occasion four 
killed and fourteen wounded. After this expedition the regi- 
ment spent the winter in camp at Beverly, and in the spring of 
1862 took part in the actions against Camp Alleghany, Hunts- 
ville and McDowell. In the engagement at Bull Pasture 
Mountain, on the 8th of May, when the Union Army fell back 
to Franklin, closely followed by the enemy, the 32nd was the 
last regiment to leave the field, and lost on this occasion six 
killed and fifty-three wounded. While at Franklin it was 
transferred to General Schenck's brigade, and was with Gen- 
eral Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley and shared in the en- 
gagements at Cross Keys and Port Republic on the 8th and 
9th of June. Returning up the valley it remained at Winches- 
ter, \'a., until September 1st, then moved to Harpers Ferry, 
losing 150 men in the engagement on the 14th. 

In January, 1863, the regiment was ordered South, joined 
the army at Memphis, Tenn., and was with the army under 
Grant in his advance in the rear of Vicksburg. taking part in 
the action at Port Gibson and in the battles of Raymond, Jack- 
son and Champion Hills. In the last-named engagement it 
made a bayonet charge and captured the First Mississippi 
rebel battery. For this feat of gallantry the battery was 
turned over to Company F of this regiment, which became 
the 26th Ohio Battery. 

In the assault upon Vicksburg. in May, 1863, the regiment 
was in the front line of the forces operating against that rebel 
stronghold, and it, with the Fourth Division, Seventeenth 
Corps. General J. A. Logan commanding, was detailed to take 
possession at the surrender. 



History of Jerome Township 101 

The 32nd lost in this campaign and siege 225 men. In 
July, 1863, the regiment moved with Stevenson to Monroe, 
La., and in October accompanied McPherson to Brownsville, 
Miss. In February, ISGi, it operated under Sherman at Meri- 
dian, then returned to Vicksburg, reenlisted, and after the 
furlough home joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Ga., on 
the 10th of June. It was in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, 
on the 27th of June, and at Nicojack Creek on the 10th of 
July. In the fighting around Atlanta on the 20th, 21st, 22nd 
and 28th the 32nd took an active part, losing more than half 
its numbers. 

After the fall of Atlanta the regiment joined in the pursuit 
of Hood, marched with Sherman to the sea, and through the 
Carolinas, and on the 20th and 21st of March, 1865, took part 
in the engagement at Bentonville, then moved with the Na- 
tional forces to Raleigh, and was present at Johnston's sur- 
render. Marched through Richmond to Washington and took 
part in the grand review before the President and his cabinet. 
After which it moved to Louisville, Ky., was mustered out of 
the service July 20th, then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, 
where the men received their final discharge on the 25th day 
of July, 1865. 

It is claimed that the 32nd Regiment lost and received more 
men than any other from Ohio. Company B entered the field 
in September, 1861, 108 strong, and during the war received 
sixty-eight recruits, making the total enlistments 176. The 
company lost, while in the field, ten killed and died of wounds, 
eleven wounded, seventeen died of disease, and seven taken 
prisoners. 

Russell B. Bennett, Chaplain of the 32nd, was known in 
the Seventeenth Army Corps as the "Fighting Chaplain." He 
not only believed in the efficacy of prayer, but also believed in 
the efficacy of shot and shell, and instead of remaining in the 
rear during an engagement, he was always up in the front line, 
not only to minister to the wounded and dying, but. with gun 
in hand, taking his place in the ranks and encouraging the 
soldiers by his coolness and bravery. 



102 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Of the many instances in which he rendered good services 
during a battle we give one as related by the boys of the regi- 
ment : 

On the day the brave and gallant McPherson fell (July 
22nd, 1864), the Seventeenth Corps was hotly engaged. The 
32nd Regiment was flanked on all sides and was compelled to 
change front several times, not knowing in what direction to 
next look for the enemy. 

At one time, during a few moments' lull in the battle, the 
32nd was lying down in the edge of a cornfield waiting for 
the next attack. The Chaplain, cautioning the boys to lie very 
still and protect themselves as best they could, advanced into 
the cornfield to make a reconnoissance, and, mounting a stump 
some forty or fifty yards in front of the line, discovered the 
battle line of the enemy rapidly advancing, and moving back 
to his regiment passed the word along the line that the enemy 
was close upon them. Then, taking the musket of William 
B. Mitchell of Company B — brother to John and James 
Mitchell of Marysville (both deceased) — he fired on the ad- 
vancing line. Mitchell, lying upon the ground, would rapidly 
reload the gun, and again Bennett would fire, and all the time 
exhorting the boys to "lie low" until the enemy were close upon 
them, then to "fire low." 

All this time he stood erect, not seeming to have any 
thought of his own safety, but only solicitous for the soldiers 
of the regiment, whom he loved so dearly. Mitchell was killed 
as he lay on the ground, and his body falling into the hands 
of the enemy, was never recovered. Bennett was universally 
respected and loved by all the officers and soldiers of the regi- 
ment, and today the boys all have a good word for Chaplain 
Bennett, who died a few years ago. 

The regiment has to its credit twenty-two important bat- 
tles, besides many skirmishes. More than 2,500 soldiers 
served in the regiment and 560 were mustered out at the close 
of the war, and the loss in killed and died of wounds and 
disease was two hundred and forty-nine. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 103 

34TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Lucas, Clermont 
County, in the summer of 1861, under Colonel Abraham S. 
Piatt. About September 1st it moved to Camp Dennison, 
Ohio. The regiment was equipped and the men uniformed in 
light blue Zouave dress and was called the Piatt Zouaves, and 
was ordered to West Virginia in September. The baptism of 
fire was with a Virginia regiment at Chapmanville, Va., Sep- 
tember 25th, in which the loss was one killed and eight 
wounded. 

During the fall and winter months the regiment was on 
picket duty and scouting, and had some skirmishing with 
guerillas. In the month of May, 1862, the regiment had a 
sharp fight with the rebel forces under Humphry Marshall, 
near Princeton. In an engagement near Fayettesville, Va., 
September 10th, the regiment lost 13-1 killed, wounded and 
missing, and the loss in officers was very heavy. After this 
fight they fell back to Point Pleasant, Va. The regiment was 
on garrison duty until May, 1863. In that month the regi- 
ment was mounted and their next engagement was at Wythes- 
ville, where Colonel Toland of the 34th was killed. 

In January, 1864, a large number of the regiment reen- 
listed as veterans. After the veteran furlough the regiment 
was engaged in raiding and destroying railroads, during the 
months of May and June, and was engaged in the great 
Lynchburg raid under General Hunter. They saw some hard 
service and the losses were heavy. 

In a fight near Winchester, July 20th, the loss was thirty 
killed and wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Shaw of the 34th 
was mortally wounded. In the battle of Winchester, Septem- 
ber 19th, they were hotly engaged and six men of the color 
guard were killed, the total loss being sixty. 

In the fall of 1864 and the winter of 1865 the regiment was 
on garrison duty the greater part of the time at Beverly. The 
regiment was very much reduced in numbers and at Cumber- 
land, Md., the survivors were consolidated with the 36th Ohio 



104 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Volunteer Infantry. It was afterward known as the 36th 
Regiment, Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. 

The regiment was in thirty-three battles, fights and skir- 
mishes, and the loss in killed and died of wounds and disease 
was two hundred and sixty. The first Colonel, A. S. Piatt, 
was promoted to Brigadier-General and two commanders of 
the regiment were killed on the field. 

40TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the 
summer and fall of 1861, and was mustered in as a regiment 
December 11th under Colonel Jonathan Cranor. Eight sol- 
diers of the regiment were credited to Jerome Township, one 
of whom, Jesse V, McDowell, died in the service. 

The regiment served throughout the war in the Army of 
the Cumberland and participated in a number of decisive bat- 
tles, including Chickamauga, where it came on the field in 
Granger's Corps and Steadman's Division just at the critical 
time Sunday afternoon, September 20th, 1863, fought under 
General George H. Thomas, "The Rock of Chickamauga," and 
was a part of the Union Army that saved the day in that 
bloody battle. They lost heavily, and among the wounded was 
Dell Snodgrass of Jerome Township. 

The regiment left Camp Chase, Ohio, for the front De- 
cember 11th, 1861, was ordered to northeastern Kentucky 
and was soon actively engaged in scouting and skirmishing on 
the Big Sandy River with the Confederate Army under 
Humphrey Marshall. 

In January, 1862, it took an active part in the battle of 
Middle Creek ; then went into camp at Paintville. It operated 
in Kentucky and Virginia until February, 1863, when it moved 
to Nashville, Tenn., and was assigned to the First Brigade, 
First Division, Reserve Corps, then at Franklin. 

While at this place the Fortieth repulsed an attack made by 
Van Dorn with a large mounted force. On the 2nd of June it 
moved to Triune, and on the 23rd joined Rosecrans' army in 




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History of Jerome Tozvnsliip 105 

the movement upon Shelbyville, Wartrace and Tullahoma. It 
remained at Wartrace and Tullahoma until September Tth, 
when it moved forward in the advance on Chattanooga and 
took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga. Soon after 
this engagement the regiment went into camp at Shellmound, 
where four of its companies reenlisted. In the battle of 
Lookout Mountain, November 24th, the Fortieth took a promi- 
nent part. In January, 1864, in went into camp near Cleve- 
land. Tennessee, and in May entered upon the Atlanta cam- 
paign, participating in nearly all the battles through to the end. 

In the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24th, 1863, 
the regiment fought with conspicuous bravery and was highly 
complimented in general orders. The regiment lost heavily 
on the Atlanta campaign, and among the killed were Captain 
C. F. Snodgrass, Captain Charles Converse and Major Thomas 
Acton died of wounds. 

Captain James Watson was promoted to Lieutenant 
Colonel and commanded the regiment at the close of the war. 
The regiment participated in seventeen battles and fights, be- 
sides many skirmishes, and the losses by death — killed, died of 
wounds and disease — were two hundred and thirty-seven. 
The regiment had a service in which the survivors may well 
take a just pride. 

At Pine Knob, Georgia, on the 7th of October, Companies 
A, B, C, and D were mustered out, and the remainder of the 
regiment moved with the Fourth Corps, sharing in the pursuit 
of Hood and in the retreat before Hood from Pulaski. 

In December, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn., the non-veterans 
were mustered out, and the veterans consolidated with the 
Fifty-first Ohio Infantry. The combined regiment was then 
transferred with the Fourth Corps to Texas, where it per- 
formed guard duty until mustered out December 3. 1865. 
About forty men from Union County were members of Com- 
pany D of this regiment, four of whom were killed, six died 
in the hospital, two were drowned, and three were wounded. 



106 History of Jerome Ton'iisliip 

46TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Worthington, Ohio, in the 
fall of 1861 and was mustered into the United States service 
October 16th, 1861, under Colonel Thomas Worthington and 
Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Walcutt. Colonel Worthington 
resigned November 21st, 1862, and Lieutenant Colonel Wal- 
cutt was promoted to Colonel and commanded the regiment 
with marked ability through many of the hard and decisive 
battles in which it participated. 

Colonel Walcutt was promoted to Brigadier General for 
distinguished service on the field. He was severely wounded 
twice, and was one of General Grant's most trusted young 
officers in the Army of the Tennessee. 

Nine soldiers of this regiment, of whom Sergeant James 
Gowan was one, served from Jerome Township. Sergeant 
Gowan was killed at the battle of Mission Ridge, Tenn., No- 
vember 25th, 1863, and William Hudson and Thomas Wray 
died in the service. To have served in this regiment through 
its many campaigns and battles was a distinguished honor. 
The other six names are: William B. Herriott, David M. 
Pence, John P. Williams. Charles C. Comstock, Ammon P. 
Converse and Edward R. Buckley. 

The regiment joined General Sherman's army at Paducah, 
Kentucky, in February, 1862, and participated in the bloody 
battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6th and Tth, 1862. The loss 
was 295 killed, wounded and captured. 

In April the regiment moved with the army upon Corinth. 
The summer of 1862 was spent at Memphis, and in November 
the Forty-sixth started on a campaign through Mississippi 
under General Grant. In June, 1863, it participated in the 
siege of Vicksburg, and after the surrender moved upon 
Jackson. In October the regiment, under Sherman, em- 
barked for Memphis and Chattanooga. It took part in the 
assault on Mission Ridge, sustaining a heavy loss; then 
marched to the relief of Knoxville. 

At Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw, and the various 



History of Jerome Township 107 

battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign, the Forty- 
sixth was ever at the front. At Ezra Church the regiment 
especially distinguished itself in repelling the attacking rebels 
and capturing the colors of the Thirtieth Louisiana. After 
the fall of Atlanta, the regiment pursued Hood into northern 
Alabama and Tennessee. In November it marched with 
Sherman to the sea, participating in a sharp encounter at 
Griswoldsville and in the skirmishing around Savannah. 
From Savannah it moved to Bentonville, where it was com- 
plimented for gallant conduct in the battle at that place. 

The Forty-sixth moved through the Carolinas, on to 
Washington, and after the grand review proceeded to Louis- 
ville, Ky., where it was mustered out on the 22nd of July, 1865. 

The regiment has to its record eighteen battles, as shown 
by the official records, with many skirmishes ; marched many 
hundreds of miles, was on the firing line when the war closed, 
and fought in the last battle of General Sherman's at Benton- 
ville, N. C, March 19th, 1865. The losses, killed, died of 
wounds and disease, were 290, and the total casualties as 
shown by the official record were seven hundred and twenty- 
five. 

54TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in 
the summer and fall of 1861, under Colonel Thomas Kirby 
Smith, who was promoted to a Brigadier-General August 
11th, 1863. 

Fourteen Jerome Township soldiers are credited to the 
regiment, of whom James Clark and David Kent died in the 
service. The regiment was ordered to Kentucky in February, 
1862, and arrived at Paducah on the 20th of that month, 
where it was assigned to the division of General W. T. Sher- 
man. The regiment was among the first troops to arrive by 
steamer, going up the Tennessee River, at Pittsburg Landing, 
early in March. 

It was on outpost duty continuously through the month 



108 History of Jerome Township 

of March, and when the battle of Shiloh commenced it held 
the Union lines on the extreme left. It participated in that 
bloody battle, April 6th and 7th, with a loss in killed, wounded 
and missing of about two hundren men. During the siege of 
Corinth the regiment was on the front line the greater part 
of the time until the evacuation of that stronghold by the 
Confederates, May 30th, and had a number of skirmishes and 
minor engagements. 

Soon after the evacuation of Corinth the regiment moved 
with the Division to LaGrange, Tenn., and then on to Holly 
Springs, Miss. In July the regiment marched to Memphis, 
Tenn., and from here was on several scouting and recon- 
noitering expeditions, and was with the advance of Sherman's 
army on the first expedition against Vicksburg. 

In the engagement at Chickasaw Bayou, on the 28th and 
29th of December, the regiment lost twenty men killed and 
wounded. In January, 1863, it took part in the assault and 
capture of Arkansas Post. 

From this place the Fifty-fourth proceeded to Young's 
Point, La., and for a time was employed in digging a canal ; 
then marched to the rescue of a fleet of gunboats which were 
about to be destroyed. In May it moved with Grant's army 
to the rear of Vicksburg, was engaged in the battles of Cham- 
pion Hills and Big Black Bridge, and on the 19th and 22nd 
of May took an active part in the assault upon the enemy's 
works, losing in the two days forty-seven men killed and 
wounded. 

In October the regiment proceeded to Memphis and thence 
to Chattanooga, taking part in the assault on Mission Ridge, 
November 26th. The following day it marched to the relief 
of Knoxville and after pursuing the enemy through Tennessee 
into North Carolina returned to Chattanooga, and from there 
proceeded to Larkinsville, Ala. On the 22nd of January, 
186-4, the Fifty-fourth reenlisted, and after the furlough to 
Ohio, returned to the Army with 2U0 recruits. 

In May it joined Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and par- 
ticipated in the engagements at Resaca. Dallas and New Hope 



History of Jerome Township 109 

Church. In the assauh upon Kenesaw Mountain, June 27th, 
the regiment lost twenty-eight killed and wounded. At Nico- 
jack Creek, July 3rd, thirteen were killed, wounded and 
missing; in the battles on the east side of Atlanta, July 21st 
and 22nd, ninety-four were killed, wounded and missing; and 
at Ezra Chapel, on the 28th, eight more were added to the list 
of killed and wounded. 

From this time until the 27th of August the Fifty-fourth 
was continually engaged in the works before Atlanta. It took 
a prominent part in the engagement at Jonesboro, pursued 
Hood northward, returned and marched to the sea, taking 
part in the capture of Fort McAllister on the 15th of Decem- 
ber. It moved through the Carolinas, participating in many 
skirmishes, and in the last battle of the war at Bentonville, 
N. C, March 21st, 1865. 

The regiment moved to Richmond, Va., and from there to 
Washington City. After passing in review it moved to Louis- 
ville, Ky., thence to Little Rock, Ark., and there performed 
garrison duty until mustered out, August 15th, 1865. 

The regiment marched upward of 3,500 miles, participated 
in seventeen hard-fought battles and many skirmishes. The 
losses in killed, wounded, died of disease and missing were 
five hundred and six. It fought in the States of Tennessee, 
Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, and North Carolina. 

FIFTY-EIGHTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the 
winter of 1862, under the call of the President for 300.000 
troops, under Colonel Val Bausenwein, and was largely com- 
posed of Germans, both officers and men of the ranks. 

Colonel Bausenwein resigned and Lieutenant Colonel 
Peter Dister commanded the regiment. He was killed De- 
cember 29th, 1862, in a fight on the Yazoo River, Mississippi, 
and the regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing upward 
of forty per cent of the number engaged. 

It saw its first hard battle at Fort Donelson, and its next at 



110 History of Jerome Township 

Pittsburg Landing. It took part in the siege of Corinth, then 
moved to Memphis, where it was ordered to Arkansas. In 
January, 1863, it shared in the capture of Arkansas Post, and 
in April joined Grant's Vicksburg campaign. It participated 
in the engagements of Deer Creek and of Grand Gulf. 

On the surrender of Fort Donelson the Fifty-eighth was 
the first regiment to enter the Fort, February 16th, 1862, and 
Lieutenant Colonel Rempel, commanding the regiment, hauled 
down the Confederate flag. The regiment was hotly engaged 
in the battle of Shiloh, April 7th, with a loss of nine killed 
and forty-three wounded. 

During the summer of 1863 the companies of the regiment 
were transferred to ironclads and flotillas and saw some hard 
service in running the blockades of the rebel batteries at 
Vicksburg, and in the battle of Grand Gulf the regiment lost 
heavily. The regiment has to its credit twelve battles, many 
skirmishes, and the losses in killed died of wounds and disease 
totaled three hundred and five. 

The service of this German regiment was long and honor- 
able, and the members of the regiment have left to their 
families a noble heritage of devotion to the flag of their 
adopted country. The regiment was discharged at Columbus, 
Ohio, January 14th, 1865. 

Dunallen M. Woodburn was the only soldier of Jerome 
Township who served in this regiment. He left home without 
the consent of his paretns, which was a very usual occurrence 
in those war days. He was but 14 years of age, and enlisted 
January 16th, 1862, serving continuously until the regiment 
was discharged. He reenlisted as a veteran, and was pro- 
moted to Drum-Major of the 47th Regiment, U. S. C. T. 

He had a remarkable service for a boy of 14, and now 
after a lapse of more than fifty years I recall an incident of 
the battle of Shiloh. Knowing that the 58th Regiment was 
in the battle and that his parents, John and Maria Curry 
Woodburn, would be anxious about him, the day after the 
battle, April 7th, 1862, I mounted my horse and after a search 
of several hours on the battlefield, strewn with the dead of 



History of Jerome Tozvnsliip 111 

both armies, I found "Dun," as we called him, as happy and 
unconcerned as if he had been at his home. I sought and 
found Colonel Bausenwein, who, in his Fez cap, was enjoying 
his pipe, and requested that Dun accompany me to our 
bivouac, to which he readily consented. 

I took him on my horse and we made our way to my regi- 
ment. We had no tents and it rained almost continuously for 
two or three days, but I shared my blankets and rubber poncho 
with him. All around were dead artillery horses and ambu- 
lances were busy gathering up our own boys in the dense 
woods, and no doubt he will recall this incident vividly. 

SIXTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Worthington and Mari- 
etta, Ohio, by the consolidation of two battalions, known as 
the Twenty-second and Sixty-third. It was organized in 
February, 1862, under Colonel John W. Sprague, and imme- 
diately joined the Army of the Mississippi under General 
Pope, and was engaged in all the movements which resulted 
in the capture of Island No. 10, and in the siege of Corinth. 

It took part in the battles of luka and Corinth under Rose- 
crans. After operating in Alabama and Tennessee until Oc- 
tober, 1863, the Sixty-third joined the Army of the Cumber- 
land, and participated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign, 
the march to the sea, and through the Carolinas. It took part 
in the review at W'ashington, then moved to Louisville, where 
it was mustered out July 8th, 1865. 

In the battle of Corinth, Miss., October 4th, 1862, the 
regiment captured in a charge one gun of a battery, with the 
Captain commanding, and a number of prisoners. The loss 
in this battle was almost fifty per cent in killed and wounded. 
Sergeant Eli Casey, the only Jerome Township soldier who 
served in the 63rd, was killed in this battle. 

A large number of the regiment reenlisted as veterans 
January 2nd, 1864. at Prospect, Tenn. They were in the last 
battle of any importance participated in by General Sherman's 



112 History of Jerome Tocvnship 

army, at Bentonville, N. C, March 19th, and their last skir- 
mish was March 31st, near Newbern. 

The regiment was engaged in fifteen battles, besides many 
skirmishes, and the loss by death was three hundred and 
sixty-seven, as shown by the official records. 

SIXTY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

Seven Jerome Township soldiers served in this regiment, 
two of whom. Corporal Delmore Robinson and David Shine- 
man, died in the service. 

The Sixty-sixth Ohio was organized at Camp McArthur, 
Urbana, Ohio, October 1st, 1861, under Colonel Charles 
Candy, and on the 17th of January, 1862, moved to West Vir- 
ginia and reported to General Lander at New Creek, where 
the first field camp was made. General Shields soon suc- 
ceeded General Lander, and the Sixty-sixth, for a few weeks, 
was stationed as provost guard at Martinsburg, Winchester 
and Strasburg; then crossed the Blue Ridge to Fredericks- 
burg, where it was assigned to the Third Brigade under Gen- 
eral E. B. Tyler. Orders were soon received to countermarch 
for the relief of General Banks in the Shenandoah Valley 
and for the protection of Washington, then threatened by 
Stonewall Jackson. 

In the battle of Port Republic, June 9th, the regiment took 
an active and prominent part in defending a battery of seven 
guns. The enemy had possession of these guns at three dif- 
ferent times, and as many times were compelled to abandon 
them by the regiment. After fighting for five hours against 
overwhelming numbers, General Tyler withdrew his com- 
mand. The regiment lost on this occasion 196 of the 400 men 
engaged. 

The Second Division, under command of General Banks, 
opened the battle at Cedar Mountain, and in the desperate 
struggle which ensued the regiment lost eighty-seven killed 
and wounded of the 200 men in arms. Its battlefiag had one 
shell and nineteen bullet holes made through it, and one Ser- 



History of Jerome Tonmship 113 

geant and five Corporals were shot down in succession while 
carrying it. The regiment was again actively engaged at An- 
tietam on the 17th and 18th of September. On the 27th of 
December, 1862, General Stewart, with 2,000 rebel cavalry, 
made an attack on Dumfries, a small town garrisoned by the 
Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiments, about 700 
troops in all. After fighting fiercely for several hours, the 
enemy was forced to retreat. 

After participating in the battle of Gettysburg, the Sixty- 
sixth pursued Lee to the Rappahonnock ; and in August, 1863, 
proceeded to New York to enforce the draft. In September 
it was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, near Chat- 
tanooga, and in November took part in the battles of Lookout 
Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold. On the 15th of 
December the regiment reenlisted, and at the end of veteran 
furlough returned to Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained in 
camp about three months. In May, 1864, it moved with the 
First Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Corps, on the At- 
lanta campaign. 

At Resaca the Sixty-sixth was actively engaged, but with 
slight loss. On the 25th of May it took part in the engage- 
ment near Pumpkin Vine Creek, and for eight days kept up 
a continuous musketry fire with the enemy. On the 15th of 
June the regiment led the advance on Pine Mountain, and in 
the battles of Kenesaw, Marietta and Peach Tree Creek 
fought with conspicuous gallantry. After the capture of At- 
lanta the Sixty-sixth remained on duty in that city until Sher- 
man started on his "march to the sea." From Savannah it 
moved northward through the Carolinas and on to Washing- 
ton, passing over the old battlefield of Chancellorsville, thus 
making the entire circuit of the Southern States. 

The regiment marched and was transported by rail upward 
of 11,000 miles; participated in sixteen hard-fought battles, 
a score of fights and skirmishes, and served in twelve States. 
The losses in killed, died of wounds and disease were two 
hundred and forty-five, and the total casualties were upward 



114 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

of five hundred. The regiment was discharged at Columbus, 
Ohio, July 19th, 1865. 

Company F, organized in Union County, and the one in 
which the Jerome Township soldiers served, lost forty-one by 
death, thirty-four wounded, and eight were taken prisoners 
of war. To have served in this regiment, participating in its 
marches, campaigns and many battles, is sufficient honor for 
any soldier who served in the armies of the Union. But a 
remnant of that fighting regiment survives to tell the story 
of Gettysburg and of the many other bloody fields on which 
they fought. 

82ND REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Kenton, Ohio, in the fall 
of 1861, and was mustered into service under Colonel James 
Cantwell, December 31st, 1861. It was ordered to Fetterman, 
Va., in January, 1862, and that winter was devoted to drilling 
and equipping. In March it was assigned to Gen. Robert 
Schenk's Brigade and the baptism of fire was the attack on 
Bull Pasture Mountain. 

On the 25th of May it moved with the army under General 
Fremont to Cross Keys, and followed Stonewall Jackson's 
forces to the Shenandoah. In the organization of the army 
of Virginia, under General Pope, the Eighty-second was as- 
signed to an independent brigade under Milroy, of the First 
Corps, Sigel's command. 

In August it was again engaged with Jackson at Cedar 
Mountain. A few days later the two armies met on the op- 
posite banks of the Rappahannock River, and for more than 
a week kept up an incessant skirmishing, the enemy making 
many attempts to gain Waterloo Bridge, which was defended 
by Milroy's Brigade. When orders were received for the de- 
struction of the bridge, the work was intrusted to the Eighty- 
second. Then followed the second Bull Run battle, in which 
the regiment fought with conspicuous gallantry, losing heavily. 



History of Jerome Township 115 

In this engagement Colonel Cantwell was killed and Colonel 
James S. Robinson assumed command. 

It participated in the advance on Fredericksburg, and in 
December went into winter quarters at Stafford C. H. General 
Howard succeeded General Sigel in command of the Eleventh 
Corps ; and the Eighty-second having been relieved from duty 
at headquarters, reported to General Schurz, its division com- 
mander, and by him was designated as a battalion of sharp- 
shooters for the division. In the movement upon Chancellors- 
ville on the 2nd of May, the Eighty-second performed good 
service, and from this time until the 7th, was engaged in the 
trenches or on the picket line. 

W'hen the army fell back the regiment returned to Stafford 
and remained quietly in its old camp until the 10th of June. 
Then, having been assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third 
Division, it moved on the Gettysburg campaign, and so severe 
was its loss in this sanguinary battle that- only ninety-two of 
the 258 men who went into the action remained to guard its 
colors. 

The Eleventh Corps followed in pursuit of the retreating 
enemy as far as Warrenton Junction. At Hagerstown the 
Eighty-second had been assigned to the First Brigade of the 
Third Division, and when the Third Division was ordered to 
guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, it was placed at 
Catlett's Station, where it performed guard and patrol duty 
until September. On the 25th, the regiment, with the Eleventh 
Corps, was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and 
participated in the battle of Wauhatchie, October 28th, and in 
the assaults upon Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. 

On January 1st, 1864, the Eighty-second reenlisted for 
another three years' service ; on the 10th started to Ohio on 
veteran furlough ; on the 23rd of February reassembled at 
Columbus, Ohio, with 200 recruits, and, on the 3rd of March, 
joined its brigade at Bridgeport, Ala. Here the Eleventh and 
Twelfth Corps were consolidated, forming the Twentieth, and 
the Eighty-second was assigned to the Third Brigade, First 
Division of this corps. 



116 History of Jerome Township 

On the 30th of April marching orders were received and 
the regiment entered upon the Atlanta campaign, moving to- 
ward Resaca. On the 14th of May it assisted the Fourth 
Corps in repulsing an attack by the rebels on Dalton Road, 
and in the engagement of the next day held an important posi- 
tion with but slight loss. 

At Dallas the regiment took an active part, holding the 
center of the line. The entire brigade was exposed to a heavy 
fire ; by sunset almost every cartridge was gone, and it was 
only by searching the cartridge boxes of the dead and wounded 
that a straggling fire was kept uptil night, when the brigade 
was relieved. 

On the 20th of July it crossed Peach Tree Creek and found 
the rebels in the woods about four miles from Atlanta. The 
regiment lost in this affair, seventy-five killed and wounded. 
During the siege of Atlanta the Eighty-second occupied an im- 
portant but exposed position. On one occasion the regimental 
colors were carried away and torn to shreds by a cannon ball. 
On the 20th of August it was removed to a position on the 
Chattahoochie, and General Slocum assumed command of the 
corps. On the 2nd of September the National forces took pos- 
session of Atlanta, and the regiment went into camp in the 
suburbs. On the 15th of November it moved with Sherman's 
army to the sea — a detachment taking part in the encounter 
with Wheeler's cavalry at Buffalo Creek. From Savannah it 
marched through the Carolinas. 

The regiment took a prominent part in the engagement at 
Averysboro, losing two officers and eight men wounded, and 
was again actively engaged in the last battle of the war at 
Bentonville, in which it lost two officers and nine men wounded 
and fourteen men missing. From Bentonville it moved to 
Goldsboro, and on the 9th of April was consolidated with the 
Sixty-first Ohio, the new organization being denominated the 
Eighty-second. After the surrender of Johnston at Raleigh, 
the regiment marched to Washington, and having participated 
in the grand review on the 2-ith of May, went into camp near 
Fort Lincoln. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 117 

On the 15th of June it moved to Louisville, Ky., where it 
remained until the 25th of July, then proceeded to Columbus, 
Ohio, and was discharged July 29th, 1865. 

The Eighty-second Regiment fought in five different states, 
and participated in twenty-four battles. The loss in killed, 
died of wounds and disease, was two hundred and fifty-seven. 
The service of this regiment was most distinguished, it having 
participated in many decisive battles, and was on the firing 
line when the war ended. 

86TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE MONTHS' SERVICE. 

Under the call for 75,000 volunteers by the President, in 
May, 1862, the quota assigned to Union County was one hun- 
dred men. In response to that call, a company was recruited 
in the county by Captain W. H. Robb, and was assigned as 
Company E, 86th O. V. I. 

Twelve soldiers of Jerome Township served in this regi- 
ment, which was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in May and 
June, 1862, under Colonel Barnabas Burns. It was imme- 
diately ordered to West Virginia, and was on garrison duty at 
Clarksburg and Grafton until about the last of July guarding 
the railroads and supply trains. 

July 27th Companies A, C, H and I were detailed under 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Hunter, and were ordered to 
Parkersburg to watch the movements of the enemy in that 
section, as it had been reported that a rebel force under Jenkins 
was advancing on Clarksburg for the purpose of destroying 
the railroad and capturing supplies. The rebel force did not 
succeed in reaching Clarksburg, but attacked the garrison at 
Buckhannon, destroying the railroad and burning supplies. 

The balance of the term of service of the regiment was 
employed in guard duty. At the expiration of the term of 
service the regiment was ordered to Delaware, Ohio, and was 
discharged September 25th, 1862. The loss by death was two. 
Immediately after discharge many members of the regiment 
reenlisted in long-term organizations. 



118 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

85TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE MONTHS' SERVICE. 

The companies recruited for this regiment in the 
summer of 1862. rendezvoused at Camp Chase, Ohio, were 
mustered in under Colonel Charles W. Allison, an attorney 
of high character of Bellefontaine. A large number of rebel 
prisoners were confined at Camp Chase and the services of 
the regiment were required to guard these prisoners. 

Colonel Allison was assigned to the command of the post 
and the regiment was retained on garrison duty during the 
summer. The duties were very arduous and Colonel Allison 
proved to be a competent commander. He was anxious to 
go to the front, but was retained on duty by request of the 
Governor, as it was important to have vigilant and competent 
officers in command of the camp and prison. 

Some of the companies were sent as escorts to prisoners at 
different times but did not have any active service in the field. 
But one soldier of Jerome Township served in this regiment. 

The regiment was mustered in June 10th, 1862, and was 
mustered out September 23rd, 1862. The loss by death was 
ten. 

86TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
SIX MONTHS' SERVICE. 

The Eighty-sixth Regiment for the six months' service was 
organized at Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer of 1863, and was 
mustered in under Colonel Wilson C. Lemert, who had served 
as a Major in the 86th O. V. I. three months' service, and a 
number of other officers of the same regiment also served in 
this new organization. 

A company of this regiment was recruited in Union County 
by Captain James W. Fields, and was assigned as Company 
B when the regiment was organized and mustered into the 
U. S. service at Camp Chase in July, 1863. 

Fifteen Jerome Township soldiers served in this company, 
two of whom, James A. Curry and William Wise, died in the 
service. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 119 

The rebel General, John Morgan, was then making a raid 
through Ohio and the regiment took an active part in pursuit 
of Morgan and rendered most excellent service under the com- 
mand of Colonell Shackleford, making hard marches on foot 
and at other times a part of the command impressing horses. 
They were continuously making efforts to intercept detach- 
ments of the enemy, who were making rapid marches to make 
their escape across the Ohio River, and were present at the 
surrender of Morgan's command at Salineville, Ohio. 

After the pursuit of Morgan's forces, the regiment re- 
turned to Camp Todd, Columbus, Ohio, for a few days, and 
about the first of August was ordered to Camp Nelson, Ken- 
tucky, and having joined the forces under Colonel D. E. 
Courcy, marched to Cumberland Gap, arriving about the first 
of September. 

General Burnsides arrived a few days later on the op- 
posite side of the Gap, thus investing the Confederate forces. 
The 86th was stationed on the Harlem Road and formed a line 
of battle ready for action, and a section of Captain Henry M. 
Neil's Ohio Battery was stationed on the left. The command 
of Colonel De Courcy was composed of the 86th Ohio, 129th 
Ohio, the 9th and 11th East Tennessee Cavalry, and Captain 
Neil's 22nd Ohio Battery. A peremptory demand was then 
made for an unconditional surrender of the Confederate forces 
under General Frazier, who at once accepted the terms without 
firing a shot. The 86th Ohio was then accorded the honor of 
marching into the Fort, hauling down the rebel flag, and rais- 
ing the Stars and Stripes. General Frazier surrendered nearly 
3,000 men, 5,000 stands of small arms, thirteen pieces of ar- 
tillery, with commissary and quartermaster stores. 

Company B of the 86th was detailed to assist in guarding 
the prisoners to Lexington, Ky., and then returned to the Gap 
and remained on duty until the term of service expired. James 
A. Curry took sick on this march and died at Crab Orchard, 
Kentucky, October 2nd. As forage was very scarce, many 
expeditions were sent out to gather grain and other supplies, 
and they had many skirmishes with the rebel cavalry. 



120 History of Jerome Township 

This regiment saw a great deal of hard service, beginning 
with the campaign after Gen. John Morgan in July, 1863. 
Then the winter campaign at Cumberland Gap, participating in 
the siege and marching back and forth from the Gap to Lex- 
ington and Camp Nelson, they were continuously on the move 
in all kinds of weather. Many regiments that had a much 
longer service did not experience the severe campaigning that 
this regiment did, even in six months, as it was rushed to the 
front as soon as mustered into the service. 

The regiment left the Gap for home January 16th and was 
mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, February 10th, 1864, after 
a very strenuous, active service of six months. The loss by 
death was thirty-eight. 

88TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

A battalion of four companies of this regiment was organ- 
ized at Camp Chase, Ohio, under Major Peter Zinn in the 
summer of 1862, but the regiment was not fully recruited and 
mustered in until July, 1863, under Colonel George W. Neff. 

Ten soldiers of Jerome Township served in this regiment. 
William Fulk and George F. Mclntyre died in the service. 

A large number of rebel prisoners were confined at Camp 
Chase and the regiment was assigned to duty guarding the 
prisoners. This duty was very strenuous and the men were 
kept on duty continuously. Before the regiment was fully re- 
cruited a battalion of the regiment was ordered to Cincinnati, 
in September, 1862, to assist in repelling the invasion of the 
rebel army under command of Kirby Smith. It crossed the 
Ohio River into Kentucky and was in line of battle some days 
under command of General Lew Wallace. Manning the for- 
tifications around Covington, they were very highly compli- 
mented for their efficient service in front of the enemy by the 
commanding officer. 

As soon as the regiment was mustered Colonel Neff, who 
had served as Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Kentucky 
Infantry and had considerable experience in the field, inaugfu- 




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History of Jerome Township 131 

rated the strictest discipline and the regiment under his com- 
mand became one of the best drilled regiments that had been 
been organized in the state. 

Both officers and men were anxious to go to the front and 
a few companies were sent to West Virginia and to Maryland 
for a short time on duty, but were soon ordered back, as Gen- 
eral Morgan and his bold riders were making a raid through 
Ohio in July, 1863. 

A part of the regiment was ordered to Camp Dennison and, 
under Colonel Neff, was deployed ready to resist an attack 
from Morgan's forces. Trees were felled across the roads 
leading to Camp Dennison and the obstructions were such that 
Morgan's column made a detour and did not attack the Post. 

After the passing and capture of a large part of Morgan's 
forces, the regiment was again ordered to Camp Chase and 
was on duty there until October. Colonel Neff made applica- 
tion to go to the front again, and finally the regiment was or- 
dered to Cincinnati for provost duty. Camp Chase was then 
garrisoned by a detachment of convalescents and the Veteran 
Reserve Corps. The men of these detachments being absent 
from their regular commands, being dissatisfied and discipline 
lax, there was great danger that prisoners would escape. By 
request of the commanding ofticer, the 88th was ordered back 
to Camp Chase, much to the disgust of both officers and men. 
The regiment remained on duty at Camp Chase until mustered 
out July 3rd, 1865. 

This regiment was composed of good material, was well 
drilled, and had the opportunity been given, it would have ren- 
dered good service on the firing line. The loss during the serv- 
ice of the regiment was eighty by death. 

94TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 94th Regiment was organized at Piqua, Ohio, in the 
summer of 1862, and was mustered into the service August 
24th, under Colonel Joseph W. Frizell. Captain Andrew 
Gowan of Jerome Township served in Company H of this 

9 



122 History of Jerome Township 

regiment and was in the service continuously from August 
7th, 1862, to June 5th, 1865, participating in all of its battles. 
The regiment was immediately ordered to Kentucky before it 
was armed and fully equipped, and with no experience in 
discipline or drill. Proceeding by rail to Lexington, on their 
arrival they found many stragglers from the battlefield of 
Richmond passing through the town. 

The regiment was ordered to Yates Ford on the Kentucky 
River. This was the first march of the new regiment and 
on arriving at the Ford about dusk the regiment had their first 
war experience in a skirmish with the pickets of the enemy, 
losing two men killed and several wounded. The next morn- 
ing a large force of rebels advanced on the regiment by shell- 
ing the woods with a battery. 

The regiment, under orders, fell back slowly to Lexington 
and on to Louisville with the army. The dusty roads and 
scarcity of water caused many of the men to become com- 
pletely exhausted, as they had been marching night and day 
since arriving at Lexington. August 31st, the day after the 
fight at Richmond, Kentucky. 

This was the introduction of the regiment to the many 
campaigns and battles in which they were destined to partici- 
pate, and is referred to by members of the regiment as one 
of their hardest campaigns. 

The regiment remained at Louisville until October 1st. 
Their next service was in the battle of Perrysville, in which 
they were actively engaged. They served in the Army of the 
Cumberland, participating in many decisive battles, including 
Stone River, Chickamauga, and all the battles around Chat- 
tanooga. They served in General Sherman's army on the 
Atlanta campaign in the summer of 1864, and marched to 
the sea. 

Marching from Savannah through the Carolinas, they par- 
ticipated in the battle of Bentonville, N. C, March 19th. 1865, 
then marched to Washington and was in the Grand Review. 

The regiment participated in nineteen battles, the loss by 
death was one hundred and ninety-nine, and it was mustered 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 133 

out at Washington, D. C, June 6th, 1865. The regiment was 
on the firing hne in all the battles of the Army of the Cum- 
berland, and was one of the fighting regiments of that splen- 
did army. 

95TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 95th Regiment was organized at Urbana, Ohio, and 
mustered into the service at Camp Chase, August 19th, 1862, 
under Colonel Wm. L. McMillen. Eleven Jerome Township 
soldiers served in this regiment and Samuel B. Beard died 
in the service. 

The regiment was immediately ordered to Kentucky, be- 
fore it had any opportunity to drill, and within ten days after 
muster it participated in the battle of Richmond, Ky., August 
30th, 1862. The regiment arrived at Lexington by rail, and 
was ordered toward Richmond on a forced march to meet 
and repel General Kirby Smith's Veteran Confederate army, 
largely outnumbering the Union forces. On the morning of 
August 30th the rebels advanced in strong force and the 95th 
was soon engaged in heavy skirmishing. 

A detachment of the 95th under the Lieutenant Colonel 
contested the advance stubbornly after the Union Army was 
driven from the field until they were surrounded and upward 
of one hundred, with the commanding officer, taken prisoners. 
The other companies of the regiment having fallen back, an- 
other effort was made to stem the tide of the heavy Confed- 
erate force, but they were soon driven back and about six 
hundred were taken prisoners, eight men were killed and 
forty-seven wounded. 

The prisoners were paroled and were allowed to make 
their way back toward the Ohio River as best they could. 
The 95th was the only Ohio regiment in this battle, and while 
it was very disastrous to the Union forces, it may well be 
doubted if even Veterans, under the conditions, could have 
held the field against such an overwhelming number. While 
it was a discouraging introduction in their baptism of fire. 



124 History of Jerome Toivnship 

as soon as the regiment was exchanged strict discipHne and 
drill were inaugurated and during the war it made a record 
which is recognized as one among the best in Ohio organiza- 
tions. 

In May, 1863, they were again ordered to the field and 
served through the Vicksburg campaign in the spring and 
summer. The regiment participated in the campaign on Big 
Black River, the capture of Jackson, Miss., and in the charge 
against the rebel fortifications at Vicksburg, May 22nd. 
After the surrender of Vicksburg they were continuously 
scouting, raiding and destroying railroads during the summer 
months, and went into winter quarters at Memphis in the fall. 
The regiment had been attached to the Fifteenth Corps up 
to this time, but during the winter was attached to the Six- 
teenth Corps. In June, 1864, the regiment participated in 
the disastrous campaign against Tupelo, Miss., under com- 
mand of General Sturgis, and in the battle of Guntown, Jan- 
uary 10th, lost heavily in men and officers. 

They were in the second campaign against Tupelo under 
General A. J. Smith, in July, in which the rebels under Gen- 
eral Forrest were defeated. After Sherman had started on 
his march to the sea the regiment, with the forces under Gen- 
eral A. J. Smith, were ordered to Nashville, Tenn. In the 
battle of Nashville, fought December 15th and 16th, under 
command of General George H. Thomas, the regiment was 
hotly engaged both days, storming the rebel breastworks, cap- 
turing artillery and many prisoners, but losing heavily. The 
regiment was then ordered to New Orleans and served under 
General Canby until the close of the war. 

The regiment participated in sixteen battles, many skir- 
mishes, and, as shown by the official records, the losses in 
killed, died of wounds and disease, were two hundred and 
seventy-six. The regiment was mustered out at Camp Chase, 
Ohio, August 14th, 1865. 



History of Jerome Township 125 

96TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Delaware, Ohio, in the 
summer of 1862. It was recruited in the counties of Dela- 
ware, Knox, Logan, Morrow, and Marion. Company K was 
recruited in Union County and twenty-three soldiers of 
Jerome Township served in this company, seven of whom 
died in the service. 

The regiment was mustered into the service August 19th, 
1862, under Colonel Joseph W. Vance, who was killed in the 
battle of Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8th, 1864. After 
the death of Colonel Vance, Lieutenant Colonel Albert H. 
Brown commanded the regiment with distinguished ability 
until the close of the war. Dr. David H. Henderson of 
Marysville, Ohio, was surgeon of the regiment. Of the 115 
soldiers who served in Company K of the regiment from 
Union County, 43 were killed or died of wounds or disease, 
ten were wounded, and six were made prisoners of war. 
Thomas L. Evans, who served in this company and was pro- 
moted to a Captaincy, taught a select school in the little brown 
schoolhouse still standing on the corner of the square at New 
California, after the close of the war. 

On the 1st of September, 1862, the regiment left Camp 
Delaware, by way of Columbus, for Cincinnati, and, arriving 
in that city the same evening, crossed the Ohio River and 
quartered in the streets of Covington for the night. They 
remained there a week, sleeping at night in the streets, and 
were fed by the loyal citizens of that place. 

On the 8th of October the regiment, in the brigade of 
General Burbridge, A. J. Smith commanding the Division of 
the Thirteenth Corps, marched to Falmouth, thence to Cyn- 
thiana, Paris, Lexington, and Nicholasville. At the latter 
place they remained in camp two or three weeks, then marched 
to Louisville, where they remained in the mud along the Ohio 
River for a few days ; then embarked for Memphis. Tenn., 
on the 19th of November, where they were encamped for 
about a month. While there they were reviewed by General 



126 History of Jerome Township 

Sherman and ordered to embark on the steamer Hiawatha 
and proceed down the river with the forces under his com- 
mand, the objective point being Vicksburg, Miss. 

The whole regiment and its outfit of wagons, teams, etc., 
together with the Seventeenth Ohio Battery with its guns, 
horses and mules, were packed on this small craft. Nearly 
every member of the battery was sick with the measles. The 
horses and mules were placed on deck, their heads tied on 
either side, forming between them a narrow aisle. Only par- 
tial rations of hard bread and roasted coffee could be had, 
the only resort being flour and green coffee, which required 
cooking and roasting. It may have been a necessity, but cer- 
tainly it was a bitter fatality. 

The only facility for cooking was a small stove on the 
after deck, to reach which it was necessary to run the gauntlet 
of two hundred pairs of treacherous heels and the filth of 
such a stable. First, the coffee and the meat were cooked and 
eaten with hard bread, but the supply of the latter was soon 
exhausted and the men were forced to mix flour with water 
and bake it on the same stove. With the best effort possible 
it was often 2 o'clock before all had their breakfast of the 
half-cooked material. As if this were not all that flesh and 
blood could endure, cold rain continually drenched all who 
were not under cover, and for want of room many were 
forced to remain on the hurricane deck, famished with hunger 
and tortured with sleeplessness. 

All day and all night the little stove was used by men 
preparing the unhealthy rations which, while they staved off 
starvation, were not slow, in connection with other causes, in 
developing diseases that were equally fatal to those who were 
packed close in the ill-ventilated and overcrowded apartments. 
Surgeon Henderson, with his assistants, labored incessantly 
to check disease and relieve the sufferings of the men, but 
typhoid, measles and erysipelas were masters, everything 
seemingly rendering them aid. Death reaped a frightful 
harvest. 

On its way the regiment disembarked at Milliken's Bend 



History of Jerome Township 127 

on the 20th and made a forced march to Dallas Station, La., 
on the Vicksburg, S. & T. Railroad, a distance of twenty- 
eight miles over a narrow road cut through a dense cypress 
forest, over stretches of corduroy and thick intervening mud 
of the low marshes, burning depots and warehouses, destroy- 
ing a large amount of railroad property, tearing up the track 
for miles, returning the following day in a pelting storm of 
cold rain, having marched fifty-six miles in less than forty 
hours. 

The regiment was taken on down the river to the Yazoo 
(the River of Death), and up that river to Johnson's Land- 
ing; there disembarked and marched to Chickasaw Bluffs and 
participated in the first attack on Vicksburg, where the Union 
forces were defeated. Then proceeding to Arkansas Post, 
they took an active part in the assault upon the works, cap- 
turing 7,000 prisoners, losing ten killed and twenty-six 
wounded. After this engagement it at once accompanied the 
army under Grant in the flank movement to the rear of Vicks- 
burg and took part in the siege until the surrender, July 4th, 
1863. Then it marched on to Jackson, taking part in the siege 
until its evacuation on the 17th of July; thence back to Vicks- 
burg. and from there by steamer to Carrollton, La. It was 
next engaged in what was called the Teche campaign, and 
participated in the battle of Grand Coteau on the 3rd of No- 
vember. This was a desperate fight against overwhelming 
numbers, the regiment losing 110 men killed, wounded and 
missing. 

In December the regiment was ordered to Texas, where 
it operated against Dick Taylor's forces until March, 1864, 
then returned to Brashear City, La., entered upon the Red 
River campaign under General Banks. On the 8th of April 
they were engaged in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, losing 
fifty-six men killed, wounded and missing. 

On the first of August the regiment, with the Thirteenth 
Corps, embarked for Dauphine Island, in the rear of Fort 
Gaines, and were the first troops to land in the rear of that 
fort and participated in the siege until the surrender on the 



128 History of Jerome Township 

8th, with 1,000 prisoners. On the 1st of September the regi- 
ment returned to Louisiana, and in November proceeded to 
the mouth of White River, in Arkansas. The regiment was 
so reduced in numbers by continued losses that a consolidation 
became necessary, which was effected by special order on the 
18th of November, making a battalion of five companies called 
the Ninety-sixth Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Brown 
commanding. 

Company B of Knox, E of Marion, and K of Union were 
consolidated, making Company C, commanded by Captain 
Evans. The battalion continued to operate in Arkansas until 
February, 1865, whence it removed to the rear of Fort Span- 
ish, the key of Mobile, Ala., participating in the siege of that 
fort, which resulted in its capture on the 8th of April. 

A few minutes after the surrender the regiment was 
marching to the assistance of General Steele, who had for 
some days been investing Fort Blakely, fifteen miles north of 
Spanish Fort. Upon the arrival of General Granger's corps 
on the field General Steele's troops stormed the fort, captur- 
ing 5,000 prisoners. This is said to be the last battle of the 
war. The battalion then proceeded to Stark's Landing on 
the 11th, and took passage on the morning of the 12th in com- 
pany with a fleet of gunboats across the bay for the city of 
Mobile. A landing of the infantry was effected below the 
rebel stronghold and marched toward it. the gunboats sending 
shells of warning that we were upon them. The reason of 
no response soon appeared in the form of a white flag. After 
the surrender of Mobile the battalion joined an expedition to 
Nannahubbah Bluff, on the Tombigbee River, and also Mc- 
intosh Bluffs. 

The last volley fired by the Ninety-sixth was on the 12th 
day of April, at Whistler Station, seven miles above Mobile, 
in a lively skirmish with Dick Taylor's retreating forces. 
The regiment returned to Mobile on the 9th of May, where 
it remained until mustered out, July 7th, 1865. excepting forty 
men whose term of service had not expired and who were 
transferred to the Seventy-seventh Battalion, Ohio Veteran 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 129 

Volunteer Infantry, and served as a detachment in that bat- 
taHon until March, 1866. 

The Ninety-sixth, from the time of entering the field until 
the close of the war, was on continuously active and, most of 
the time, hard service. The regiment marched 1,683 miles, 
and was transported by boat 7,686 miles and by railroad 517 
miles, making a total of 9,886 miles. The regiment partici- 
pated in twelve battles, a score of minor fights, and the last 
shots fired by the regiment were on April 12th, 1865, three 
days after the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox. As 
shown by the official records, the losses, killed, died of wounds 
and disease, were three hundred and thirty-nine. 

IIOTH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 110th was organized at Piqua, Ohio, in the late sum- 
mer of 1862, and was mustered into the service October 3rd 
under Colonel J. Warren Kiefer. But one Jerome Township 
soldier served in this regiment, so far as can be ascertained. 

Soon after the regiment was mustered into service it was 
ordered to Virginia, first going to Parkersburg and then to 
Clarksburg and on to New Creek, where it arrived November 
26th, and was kept on drilling and fortifying until about the 
middle of December. In January, 1863, the regiment was or- 
dered to Winchester and was assigned to the First Brigade, 
Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, where it was employed 
in scouting and reconnoitering during the winter months. 

The regiment was under fire for the first time June 13th 
at Kernstown, meeting the advance of Lee's army, and after 
contesting the ground stubbornly on the 13th and 14th they 
were compelled to fall back before a large force of the enemy 
and retreated to Harper's Ferry. In July the regiment was 
ordered to Frederick City, Maryland, via Washington, and 
then to New York and back to the Potomac and Rappahan- 
nock in November, having frequent skirmishes during the fall 
months, capturing many prisoners, and remained in winter 
quarters at Brandy Station. 



130 History of Jerome Township 

In the spring of 1864 the regiment was assigned to the 
Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and went 
into Hne for the Wilderness campaign. On the 5th of May 
they were heavily engaged, losing 19 killed, 88 wounded and 
11 missing. In the assault at Coal Harbor, June 3rd, the 
loss in the regiment was five killed and thirty-four wounded. 
It participated in the battle of Monocacy and in this engage- 
ment the casualties were upward of seventy. The regiment 
was continuously on the move during July and August, skir- 
mishing and guarding trains. In the battle of Winchester, 
October 19th, the regiment was on the front line and did 
heroic service in checking the advance of the rebels when the 
Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were driven back. During the 
late fall and winter the regiment was in winter quarters on 
the Weldon Railroad. 

The first battle of the regiment in the spring campaign 
of 1865 was March 25th, attacking the outposts and capturing 
a large number of prisoners, and on the 2nd of April an attack 
was made on the enemy's works at Petersburg, routing the 
rebels and taking possession of the fortifications. The regi- 
ment having captured a larger number of flags than any regi- 
ment in the Corps, was selected as the guard of honor to es- 
cort all the flags captured by the Corps to General Meade's 
headquarters. The regiment, after Lee's surrender, marched 
via Richmond to Washington, and was in the Grand Review. 

The regiment participated in upward of twenty battles, 
and the loss by death was 230. The total casualties were 
almost 800. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, 
D. C, June 25th, 1865. Colonel Kiefer was wounded three 
times and was promoted to Brigadier-General and Brevet 
Major-General. 

113TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

I'he 113th Regiment was organized at Camp Chase and 
Zanesville, Ohio, in the summer and fall of 1862. Seven 
companies rendezvoused at Camp Chase ; then the regiment 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 131 

was ordered to Zanesville, where one company was added, and 
then to Camp Dennison, where a company was recruited, 
and the organization of nine companies was mustered in under 
Colonel James A. Wilcox. Two Jerome Township soldiers 
served in this regiment and William Sinsel died in the service. 

Colonel Wilcox resigned April 29th, 1863, and Lieutenant 
Colonel John G. Mitchell was promoted to Colonel and com- 
manded the brigade in some of the hardest battles in which 
the regiment participated. He was promoted to Brigadier- 
General January 12th, 1865. 

December 27th, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Louis- 
ville, Ky., and encamped there and at Maldraughs Hill until 
February, 1863. The regiment was transported to Nashville 
from Louisville by river, and by reason of the lack of room 
and sanitary environments on the boats many of the men were 
taken sick, and on arrival at Nashville were in a serious con- 
dition. The regiment was ordered to Franklin and assigned 
to General Gilbert's Division, Army of the Cumberland; was 
on garrison duty at Franklin and Shelbyville during the spring 
and summer, worked on the fortifications, and was sent out 
on some scouting expeditions. 

The regiment was assigned to the Reserve Corps com- 
manded by General Gordon Granger, and moved with General 
Rosecran's army across the mountains to Chattanooga. In 
the last day's battle of Chickamauga, September 20th, 1863, 
the regiment, in General James Steadman's Division, arrived 
on the field at the most critical time, about 2 o'clock P. M., 
and reported to General George H. Thomas. They were or- 
dered to charge Longstreet's Veteran soldiers, who were 
flushed with victory as they were steadily pushing the thin 
and depleted lines of Thomas' army to the rear with terrible 
slaughter. The regiment, with other regiments of the Divi- 
sion, made a fierce assault against the onrushing Confederate 
lines, checking and driving them from the ridge, but with a 
loss of almost fifty per cent in killed and wounded, numbering 
upward of one hundred and forty. They held the line until 
the army was ordered to fall back, late in the evening. 



132 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

The regiment took an active part in all the campaigns 
around Chattanooga after the battle of Chickamauga, and 
marched to the relief of General Burnsides' army at Knox- 
ville, after the battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge. This was one of the hardest campaigns of their 
service, as the weather was bad and the men, being without 
sufficient clothing, suffered greatly. Returning to Chatta- 
nooga just before Christmas, the regiment went into winter 
quarters near McAfee's Church, a few miles south of Chat- 
tanooga. The regiment did some reconnoitering and scouting 
during the winter, but the duties were light, and the tenth 
company was organized, as up to this time there had been 
only nine. 

The regiment moved with General Sherman's army on 
the Atlanta campaign May 5th, and was heavily engaged in 
many of the hard battles of that campaign. In the battle of 
Kenesaw Mountain, fought June 2Tth. in which the 113th 
was in the advance line charging up against impregnable 
breastworks through Chiver-de-frese, the loss in the regiment 
was very heavy, being upward of 150 in killed and wounded. 
After the fall of Atlanta the regiment marched with Sherman 
to the sea and the last battle in which they were engaged was 
Bentonville, N. C, March 19th, 1865. They then marched 
to Washington and took part in the Grand Review. The 
losses during the war in killed, died of wounds and disease 
were two hundred and sixty-nine. The regiment was mus- 
tered out at Louisville, Ky., July 6th, 1865. 

121ST REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 121st Regiment was organized at Delaware, Ohio, 
during the summer of 1862, under Colonel William P. Reid, 
Lieutenant Colonel William S. Irwin, and Major R. R. Hen- 
derson. Major Henderson had considerable military experi- 
ence, as he served as a private in the Thirteenth Regiment, 
O. V. I., under the first call of the President for three months. 
He also served in the same regiment in the three years' serv- 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 133 

ice, was promoted to a Captaincy, and by reason of serious 
wounds in the battle of Shiloh was discharged from that 
regiment. 

More Union County soldiers served in the 121st O. V. I. 
than in any other regiment. Marcenus C. Lawrence was 
mustered in as Captain of Company A, Aaron B. Robinson 
as Captain of Company I, and a number of soldiers from the 
county served in Company C. Captain Lawrence was pro- 
moted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Robinson was pro- 
moted successively to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel 
of the regiment. Fifteen Jerome Township soldiers served 
in this regiment, and Lieutenant Robert B. Fleming, Otway 
B. Cone, and Lewis J. Ketch were killed in battle and several 
others were wounded. 

Company A went into camp with 102 men and Company I 
with 116. Recruits were assigned to the different companies 
during their service, making the total number of enlistments 
300, this being the greatest number of men from this county 
serving in any one regiment. Of this number seventeen were 
killed, forty-two died of wounds and disease, eighty-two were 
wounded, and thirty-two were taken prisoners, making a total 
loss of one hundred and seventy-three. 

The 121st went to Cincinnati, crossed the Ohio River and 
went into camp at Covington. Ky., on the 12th of September. 
At this place it was armed with a lot of condemned Austrian 
rifles, which were absolutely worthless. The regiment then 
moved to Louisville and was attached to General McCook's 
Division. Inexperienced and without an hour's drilling, the 
regiment marched with General Buell's forces against Bragg's 
rebel army, and on the 8th of October was led into the battle 
of Perryville, where it received its first baptism of blood. 
Many strong men were broken down in these first months 
of hard service and never afterward returned to their com- 
panies. 

The regiment was detailed to bury the dead at Perryville ; 
then continued in Kentucky performing guard duty until 
January, 1863. On the 31st of December, 1862, the regi- 



134 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

mental hospital was captured at Campbellsville, Ky., and S. B. 
Cone and James Cone were taken prisoners and paroled. On 
the 1st of February, 1863, the regiment moved into Tennessee 
and was employed in watching and protecting the right flank 
of General Rosecran's army, then stationed at Murfreesboro. 

About this time Colonel H. B. Banning was transferred to 
the command of the regiment ; the prisoners of Perryville had 
been exchanged and they, with many of the sick, returned 
to their companies. 

The 121st moved from Stone River with General Rose- 
cran's army, and on this march was engaged in a slight skir- 
mish with the rebel General Forrest at Triune, on the 3rd of 
June. A few days later it occupied Shelbyville, Tenn., and 
after remaining there several weeks advanced to Fayetteville, 
where it continued until the 1st of September, when orders 
were received to join the Reserve Corps under General Gor- 
don Granger and proceed to Chattanooga. 

On the 20th of September, 1863, the regiment was engaged 
in that memorable charge of Steadman's Division at the battle 
of Chickamauga, in which they drove the enemy at the point 
of the bayonet from the field and held it against repeated 
attacks until the close of the battle. The 121st was the last 
regiment to leave the battlefield, and carried with them the 
flag of the Twenty-second Alabama Infantry, which was cap- 
tured and borne away in triumph by one Solomon Fish, of 
Mill Creek Township, a member of Company C. It is con- 
cluded that this timely aid of the Reserve Corps saved Gen- 
eral Thomas' army from defeat. 

Captain Lawrence commanded the regiment on this occa- 
sion during the greater part of the battle, while yet ranking 
as a Captain, and Sergeant Otway Curry assumed command 
of Company A. 

The loss of the regiment in this engagement was eleven 
officers and eighty-seven men. Of Company A. Amos Am- 
rine was missing; Thomas Marshall, John J. Ramage, Solo- 
mon Hisey, O. S. Myers, Henry F. Jackson and Samuel 
Walters were wounded, and Solomon Hisey was also taken 



History of Jerome Township 135 

prisoner. Of Company I, Lieutenant Fleming, Harrison 
Carpenter and James Harden were killed, and Captain A. B. 
Robinson, A. R. Gage, George Deland, John S. Gill, John W. 
Bryan, James M. Lucas, Sheridan McBratney, Thomas Page, 
John G. Rupright, Edwin Sager and Richard White were 
wounded. 

After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment shared in 
the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, and in 
the march to the relief of Knoxville, then remained quietly 
in camp at Rossville until entering upon the Atlanta campaign. 

Captain Lawrence was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 
November, 1863, and was in command of the regiment during 
the winter of 1863 and 1864, Colonel Banning being home on 
recruiting service. On the 2nd of May, 1864, the 121st 
started on the Atlanta campaign. Companies A and I and 
two other companies were selected to make a dangerous 
charge upon Buzzards' Roost, which was successfully done 
with but little loss, then shared in the battle of Dalton a few 
days later, having passed through Snake Creek Gap, and from 
that point until the fall of Atlanta, September 1st, the regi- 
ment was continually under fire. It was in the engagement 
at Resaca and, as a part of General J. C. Davis' Division, was 
at the capture of Rome, Ga. At the battle of Kenesaw Moun- 
tain the regiment held the extreme right of the Union forces, 
and with fixed bayonet charged up nearly to the breastworks 
of the enemy in a vain effort to drive them from their strong 
position. A deadly cross-fire of shot, shell and grape killed 
and disabled 150 out of less than 400 of the 121st. With few 
exceptions all were killed or wounded in the open field in 
front of the enemy's works, in about five minutes. 

Company A lost in this engagement John G. Perry, killed ; 
O. B. Cone mortally wounded, and Henry F. Jackson, F. B. 
Hargrove, L. A. N. Craig. Henry Coats, W. H. Goff and 
Hiram Laughry wounded. 

Company I lost, on the 20th, James Chapman, killed ; on 
the 22nd A. Drake and John Vanderau were wounded, and 
on the 27th Edward Phillips, Alexander Scott. L N. Dillon, 



136 History of Jerome Township 

A. C. Rosecrans, John Kuhlman and Jeremiah Kirk were 
mortally wounded, and George Deland, J. Q. Converse, Wil- 
liam H. Bonnett, A. W. Davis, Van Dix, Alexander Gandy, 
Wesley Hawn, George Holloway, Josiah Knight, C. P. Morse, 
David Rea, H. McVay, John A. Wood, James A. Snodgrass, 
Daniel Cooperider, J. P. Goodrich and John Reed were 
wounded, and Lewis Ketch was killed. The two companies 
lost twelve killed and died of wounds and thirty wounded. 

From the 9th of July until the 17th the regiment was en- 
gaged on the banks of the Chatahoochie River; on the 18th 
and 20th it routed the enemy and occupied their position at 
Peach Tree Creek, Company A losing two men — S. B. Cone 
and John Jolliff — wounded in this engagement, and on the 
22nd joined its brigade and took position on the right of the 
National line, three miles from Atlanta. In the movement 
upon Jonesboro it took the advance, acting as skirmishers for 
the Second Division, leading the Fourteenth Corps. Captain 
Henderson of Company K and John Cooperider of Company 
I were wounded in this battle, and John Ports of Company A 
was killed. 

On the 2nd of September Atlanta surrendered, and on the 
6th the regiment went into camp near that city. The 121st 
entered the Atlanta campaign with 428 non-commissioned 
officers and men and eighteen commissioned officers. Four 
officers were killed and eight wounded. Twenty-two men 
were killed, two hundred and five wounded, and one captured. 
On the 29th of September the regiment joined the expedition 
against Forrest's rebel cavalry, and having driven him across 
Tennessee into Alabama, returned and marched in pursuit of 
Hood's army. 

On the 2nd of October Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence re- 
signed, and on the 19th Colonel Banning left the regiment 
and the command devolved on A. B. Robinson, who had been 
promoted to Major and was mustered on the 17th of Septem- 
ber. Major Robinson was afterward promoted to Colonel 




GBOitOK W. MITCHELL, 
JKUli O. V. I. 



JACOB XOXXEMAKER 
JMUh O. V. 1. 




LIBIT. H«M»KltT K. KLKMIXG 
IlIiNt (I. V. I. 



SVMIEL XOWEMAKEH 
VMith O. V. I. 




CAPTAIX J.\>1ES IJ. IJAIN 
:t<>4h O. V. I. 



ALOXXO M. GAKXER 
1n< <>. V. (• 





DAVID MAIN 
lath <>. V. 1. 



SERGEANT \I,A\S<>\ I,. SESSLER 

iNt o. V. r. 



History of Jerome Township 137 

and commanded the regiment from the fall of Atlanta until 
the close of the war with marked ability. 

The 121st joined General Sherman at Rome, Ga., and 
marched with his army to the sea. After the fall of Sa- 
vannah the regiment moved through the Carolinas, taking an 
active part in the engagement at Bentonville, losing six men 
killed and twenty wounded. 

Company A lost John Sparks killed and J. L. Porter, T. 
Prosser, J. G. Irwin, and J. C. Warner wounded; and Com- 
pany I lost C. B. Miller killed. Captain C. P. Cavis mortally 
wounded, and P. Vanderau and James Dunn severely 
wounded. 

The regiment joined the National forces in the march to 
Washington, was present at the Grand Review, and then pro- 
ceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was mustered out on the 
12th day of June, 1865. 

The 121st was one of the fighting regiments, and the 
Jerome Township boys who served in the regiment had a most 
remarkable record for hard service. They participated in a 
number of the hardest battles fought by the Army of the 
Cumberland, and the losses in killed, died of wounds and 
disease were 349, including nine commissioned officers. 

Many of the facts in this brief history of their services 
were furnished by Colonel A. B. Robinson and other members 
of the regiment. 

The large number of casualties is the best evidence that 
can be given of the dangerous service rendered by these com- 
panies, and the members are justly proud of the record of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-first. 

128TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The nucleus of the 128th O. V. I., known as the Hoffman 
Battalion, was composed of four companies, A, B, C, and D, 
recruited in 1861 and 1862. Two brothers, Samuel H. Car- 
son and Andrew L. Carson, of Jerome Township, served in 
this regiment. This battalion was on duty at Johnson's 

10 



138 History of Jerome Toioisliip 

Island during the first part of its service, but was sent to 
Virginia on scouting and reconnoitering expeditions before 
the regiment was fully recruited and organized. 

In the fall of 1863 six new companies were recruited and 
the regiment was organized and mustered in at Camp Taylor, 
Cleveland, Ohio, in January, 1864, including the Hoffman 
Battalion, under Colonel Charles W. Hill. 

The regiment in the spring of 1864 was assigned to duty 
at Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, guarding rebel officers, 
as this island had been designated for the exclusive confine- 
ment of commissioned oflicers. A large number of officers 
were confined on the island, and the duty of guarding tliem 
carefully was arduous but very monotonous. 

In 1862 the number of prisoners so confined was an aver- 
age of about 850, as it varied during the different months by 
reason of an exchange of prisoners arranged by a cartel in 
July of that year. During the year 1863 the average number 
on the island was from 40 during the month of May to 2,623 
in December. 

In 1863, by reason of the organization of disloyal Orders 
in both Ohio and Indiana, and reported concentration of rebel 
troops in Canada for the purpose of releasing prisoners, the 
garrison at Johnson's Island was largely increased in Novem- 
ber by a dismounted detachment of the 12th Ohio Cavalry, 
a Battery of the 24th Ohio Light Artillery, First Ohio Heavy 
Artillery, Pennsylvania Battery, and other detachments. 

In the winter of 1864 a brigade of the Sixth Army Corps 
was also sent to Johnson's Island under General Shaler, with 
the 24th Battery stationed at Sandusky, all under command 
of General Terry. 

In April, 1864, General Terry was relieved and Colonel 
Hill of the 128th Regiment was assigned to command of the 
garrison. In the fall of 1864 the Sixth Veteran Reserve 
Corps was duly assigned to duty on the island and there was 
a continuous transfer of troops to and from the front. De- 
tachments of the 128th Regiment were detailed for duty and 
frequently sent to distant points guarding prisoners, thus 



History of Jerome Township 139 

reducing the force in the garrison, and their duties were very 
heavy at all times. 

During the year 1864 the number of prisoners was largely 
increased, averaging from 2,500 in January to upward of 
3,000 in December. As this prison was so near the Canadian 
border, and Canada was in sympathy with secession and the 
rebel army, there was great danger at all times that a release 
of the prisoners would be attempted by their emissaries in 
Canada, assisted by the Order of the Knights of the Golden 
Circle and Sons of Liberty, organized in the loyal States. 
The regiment was kept under the strictest discipline, at all 
times ready to repel an invasion or check any attempt of the 
prisoners to make their escape. 

In addition to their duty of guarding prisoners, members 
of the regiment were required to perform a large part of the 
labor in erecting three forts, one at Cedar Point and two on 
the island, besides erecting magazine, so there was a great 
deal of physical labor necessary. The regiment was splen- 
didly drilled, and had the opportunity offered they would have 
acquitted themselves with honor on the field, as strict discip- 
line and drill had molded this organization into a fighting 
machine ready for any emergency. 

Both officers and men would have hailed with delight an 
order to go to the front, but fortune was against them. The 
loss by death was sixty- four. The regiment was ordered 
from the island to Camp Chase July 10th, and was mustered 
out July nth. 1865. 

133RD REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' SERVICE. 

In the spring of 1864 the Army of the East, under General 
Grant in Virginia, and the Army of the Middle West, under 
General Sherman in Georgia, were organizing for a general 
forward movement all along the line. This was a most criti- 
cal period in the progress of the war and it was determined 
to move all of the veteran organizations to the front and 
utilize the National Guard, organized in many of the North- 



140 History of Jerome Toivnship 

erii States, to garrison the forts and guard supplies, thus re- 
lieving the veterans from this service. Thirty thousand of 
the Ohio National Guard went into camp in one day in answer 
to the call of the President for "One hundred days' men." 

The 133rd Regiment was organized under this call at 
Camp Chase, Ohio, by consolidation of two companies of the 
National Guard from Hancock County with the National 
Guard of Franklin County, numbering about 1,000 men in 
both organizations. 

The regiment was mustered into the U. S. service May 
6th, under Colonel Gustavus S. Innis, and was immediately 
ordered to Parkersburg, W. Va. Six soldiers of Jerome 
Township served in this regiment. In a few days it was 
ordered to New Creek and was there employed in guard duty 
and drill until about the 1st of June, when it was ordered to 
Washington and on to Bermuda Hundred, arriving June 12th, 
and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Tenth 
Army Corps. 

The Division was ordered out on an expedition June 16th 
to tear up and destroy the railroad between Petersburg and 
Richmond and cut off the enemy's communication between 
those two points. 

The 133rd was engaged in a sharp fight as the regiment 
was ordered to support a battery that was shelling the rebel 
lines, and held the position for several hours while a detach- 
ment of the Division tore up several miles of railroad track. 
The troops then fell back slowly, keeping up a brisk fight all 
along the line and a few members of the regiment were 
wounded. This was their first experience on the firing line, 
and the men stood to their guns like veterans. 

On the 17th of July the regiment was ordered to take 
steamer at Point of Rocks and move to Fort Powhatan, on 
the James River. Here the regiment was employed working 
on the fortifications for some time, and had frequent skir- 
mishes with the enemy, in one of which two men were killed. 
The men were kept continuously at work on the fortifications 
when not employed on guard and picket duty. Many mem- 



History of Jerome Toivnskip 141 

bers of the regiment were stricken with malarial fever of a 
very malignant type, and about one-third of the command 
was on the sick list or in hospital during the month of July. 
Notwithstanding that fact, the men were kept on duty, al- 
though weakened by these continual fevers. 

The losses by death during the Hundred Days' Service 
were forty-seven. The regiment was mustered out at Camp 
Chase, Ohio, August 20th, 1864. 

129TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
SIX MONTHS' SERVICE. 

The 129th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was or- 
ganized at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer of 
1863. The regiment was mustered into service for six 
months August 10th, under Colonel Howard D. Johns. 
About twenty men were recruited in Union County and as- 
signed as Company G, of which William H. Robinson was 
elected Second Lieutenant and Chester L. Robinson of Jerome 
Township was appointed a Sergeant. Four Jerome Town- 
ship soldiers served in this regiment. 

A large number of both officers and men had seen service 
in other regiments, and the 129th was composed of excellent 
material and was soon under good discipline and well drilled. 
Immediately after muster the regiment was ordered to Camp 
Nelson. Kentucky, and was brigaded with the 86th Ohio Vol- 
unteer Infantry, the 22nd Ohio Battery, Light Artillery, a 
detachment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and Colonel De 
Courcy was in command of the Brigade. The Brigade was 
attached to the Ninth Army Corps. August 20th they started 
on the march to Cumberland Gap by way of Crab Orchard, 
London and Barboursville. 

The Brigade arrived at the Gap soon after the arrival of 
the army of General Burnsides from the opposite direction, 
and the rebel forces, strongly fortified, were completely in- 
vested. A few shells were fired from the forts, with some 
skirmishing on the picket lines as the Union froces advanced, 



142 History of Jerome Township 

but was a feeble resistance from the strongly fortified posi- 
tion. 

As soon as the line of battle was formed and the 22nd 
Ohio Battery, under command of Captain Henry M. Neil, 
was in position, a demand was made on General Frazier, com- 
manding the rebel forces, for the immediate surrender of his 
army. General Frazier accepted the terms at once and with- 
out firing a shot. About 2,500 prisoners were captured, with 
thirteen or fourteen pieces of artillery, several thousand 
stands of arms and a large amount of ammunition, commis- 
sary and quartermaster's supplies. A few companies of cav- 
alry made their escape through the Union lines after the sur- 
render. The Brigade was assigned to garrison duty at the 
Gap under command of Colonel Lemert of the 86th O. V. I. 
They were sent out frequently on reconnoitering expeditions 
and were so employed with guard and picket duty until about 
the 1st of December. Early in December the regiment re- 
ceived marching orders and arrived on the banks of Clinch 
River December 2nd. Here the regiment had a brisk fight 
with a detachment of Longstreet's corps near where the 
Knoxville road crosses the Clinch River. 

After this fight the regiment was on duty scouting, patrol- 
ing and watching the movements of the enemy along the river 
and had frequent skirmishes. Beginning with the "Cold New 
Year," January 1st, 1864, the weather was very cold and so 
continued during the winter. Having left their baggage at 
the Gap, the men were very thinly clad and suflfered greatly, 
as their duties were very arduous and rations scarce. 

About the last of December the regiment was ordered back 
to Tazwell. where they were in such close proximity to the 
enemy that they could not forage ofif the country for supplies 
without being in danger of an attack from a large force of 
rebel cavalry ever on the alert for foragers. This condition 
continued through all the month of January and many men 
of the Brigade died of exposure. 

A number of the officers of the 129th had seen service in 
other regiments, where they had a thorough military training. 



History of Jerome TozvnsJiip 143 

and during these terrible days of suffering were untiring in 
their efforts for the comfort of the men. It was a campaign 
of terrible suffering, and it may well be doubted if any other 
Ohio regiment passed through such a siege of hardships as 
did the 129th Regiment in the same length of service. 

During all of these days and weeks the men performed 
their duties like veterans, and without murmur or complaint, 
as attested by their officers. About the 1st of February the 
regiment was ordered back to the Gap and then marched to 
Camp Nelson, one hundred and thirty-five miles distant. 
From there the regiment moved by rail to Cleveland, Ohio, 
where it was mustered out March 4th, 1864. 

The losses by death during the six months' service were 
twenty-five. 

136TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' SERVICE. 

The 136th Regiment was organized under the call of the 
President for the "Hundred Days' Men," in May, 1864. It 
was composed of companies of the Ohio National Guard from 
Union County, Morrow County, Crawford County, and Ma- 
rion County. Union County had three full companies in 
this regiment — Company D, Captain David S. Norvell ; 
Company H, Captain Charles Fullington, and Company K, 
Captain Alpheus B. Parmeter, numbering in the three com- 
panies 274 men. 

Twenty-eight men of Jerome Township served in this 
regiment, many of whom were married men and of the most 
substantial farmers, leaving their homes just when the corn 
and other crops were being planted, thus entaling heavy finan- 
cial loss, as but few men were left at home to farm the land. 
A majority of the young men of the township were in the 
service and at the front, and this was a most critical time. 
A newspaper article published at the time gives a good idea 
of the situation, from which the following is a quotation: 

"Fortunate was it for the country that the Governor of 
Ohio held in his hand this reserved thunderbolt of war. The 



144 History of Jerome Toicnship 

crisis of the Rebellion was upon us. The rebel foe was inso- 
lent and sanguine. They were gathering their whole military 
power and preparing to hurl it upon the Union columns in 
one deadly and decisive conflict. The hearts of all brave men 
throbbed in unwonted anxiety as they looked upon the formid- 
able array of rebel hosts. They saw that the impending con- 
flict must speedily occur. They knew that failure to our 
arms would be an inexpressible disaster to the National cause ; 
and all wanted the assurance of our success made doubly sure 
by giving additional strength to our armies in the field. To 
render that strength effective, it must be added at once. The 
exigency permitted of no delay. The reenforcements must 
come then, or their coming would be useless for the critical 
moment of the campaign. It was at this moment of public 
anxiety — a moment pregnant with the Nation's future — 
that Governor Brough sent forth the reserved power of thirty- 
five thousand brave and gallant National Guards." 

This regiment was mustered into the service at Camp 
Chase May 13th, under Colonel W. S. Irwin, and was immedi- 
ately ordered to Washington, where it arrived May 20th and 
was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Ellsworth, Fort Wil- 
liams, and Fort North, south of the Potomac River, and was 
assigned to the Third Brigade, De Russey's Division. 

Strict discipline and continuous drill were inaugurated by 
the commanding officer and the regiment was soon in fine 
condition for an active campaign. They not only drilled in 
infantry tactics, but details were made to man the heavy guns 
on the forts, and many of the men became efficient in artillery 
practice. 

The regiment remained on garrison duty continuously in 
the defenses around Washington until the term of service 
expired, and won the praise of the commanding officer of the 
defenses by their soldiery bearing at all times. The regiment 
was mustered out August 30th, 1864, and the loss by death 
was twenty-five. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 145 

145'rH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, May 
12th, 186-i, to serve one hundred days. It was composed of 
the Twenty-first Battalion, Ohio National Guard, from Dela- 
ware County, and the Thirteenth Battalion, Ohio National 
Guard, from Erie County. The regiment was immediately or- 
dered to Washington City, and, on its arrival, was asigsned to 
General Augur as garrison for Forts Whipple, Woodbury, 
Albany and Tillinghast, comprising the southern defenses of 
Washington, on Arlington Heights. 

The service of the regiment consisted principally of garri- 
son and fatigue duty. On the 20th of August, the time of its 
enlistment having expired, the regiment was moved, by the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to Baltimore, and thence by the 
Northern Central, Pennsylvania Central, etc., to Camp Chase, 
where, on the 24th of August, it was mustered out on expira- 
tion of term of service. 

But one Jerome Township soldier served in this regiment, 
and the loss by death was ten. 

174TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE-YEAR SERVICE. 

Under the President's call of July, 1864, for troops to 
serve for one year, two full companies were recruited in Union 
County. Leaving Marysville for Camp Chase on the 31st of 
August, they were assigned as Companies B and C, of the 
One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry. 

The original commissioned officers of Company B were 
U. D. Cole, Captain ; Peter Hill, First Lieutenant, and George 
Harriman, Second Lieutenant. During its term of service this 
company lost five killed in battle, six wounded and twelve died 
in hospitals. 

Company C was mustered in under the following commis- 
sioned officers : William H. Robb, Captain ; W. B. Brown, 
First Lieutenant, and Joseph Swartz, Second Lieutenant. 

Captain Robb was discharged on account of wounds re- 



146 History of Jerome Tozimship 

ceived at Murfreesboro, and Lieutenant Brown was then pro- 
moted to Captain, and was in command of the company until 
wounded at Kingston, March 10th, 18G5, after which the com- 
mand devolved upon Lieut. T. B. Myers. 

Company C lost eight of its members on the fields and in 
the hospitals, and fourteen wounded. Union County was rep- 
resented among the field and staff officers of this regiment by 
A. J. Sterling, who served as Lieutenant Colonel from the or- 
ganization of the regiment until its muster out. 

The One Hundred and Seventy- fourth Ohio was organized 
September 21st, 1864, under Colonel John S. Jones, and, on 
the 23rd, left Ohio for Nashville, Tenn., to report to Maj. 
Gen. W. T. Sherman, then commanding the Military Division 
of the Mississippi. On arrival at Nashville, orders were re- 
ceived to proceed to Murfreesboro, which was then threatened 
by Forrest's rebel cavalry. 

The regiment remained at Murfreesboro until October 
27th, when it moved to Decatur, Ala., and assisted in defending 
that garrison from an attack made by Hood's advance. After 
a movement to the mouth of Elk Creek and back again, the 
One Hundred and Seventy-fourth remained at Decatur, until 
recalled to Murfreesboro to participate in the investment of 
that stronghold. It took an active part in the battle at Overall's 
Creek, losing two officers wounded, six men killed and thirty- 
eight wounded. 

After this engagement the regiment was ordered on dress 
parade and was complimented in person by General Rousseau 
for gallantry. In the battle of the Cedars it again distin- 
guished itself by making a charge on the enemy's breastworks 
and capturing two cannons, a stand of rebel colors belonging 
to the First and Fourth Florida, and about two hundred pris- 
oners. The regiment lost in this engagement one commissioned 
officer killed and seven wounded ; four men killed and twenty- 
two wounded. It was complimented in general orders for its 
conduct on this occasion. 

After having participated in all the fighting around Mur- 
freesboro. the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth joined the 



History of Jerome Toivnskip 147 

Twenty-third Army Corps at Columbia, Tenn., and was as- 
signed to the First Brigade, First Division of that corps. In 
January, 1865, it moved to Washington City, where it remained 
in camp until February 21st, then proceeded to North Caro- 
lina, and, joining the forces under General Cox, took a con- 
spicuous part in the battle of Five Forks, at Kingston. 

On the 10th of March it successfully resisted a fierce attack 
made by General Hoke. It lost two officers wounded, four 
men killed and twenty-three wounded. 

This was the last battle in which the regiment was engaged. 
It joined Sherman's forces at Goldsboro, and served under 
General Schofield at Wanesboro, N. C, until mustered out at 
Charoltte, June 28th. Then returning to Columbus, Ohio, it 
was paid off, and discharged July 7th, 1865. 

Colonel John S. Jones, who commanded the regiment, had 
served three years as a Captain in the Fourth Regiment, Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, and had seen hard service at the front, 
participating, with his regiment, in twenty-one battles in the 
Army of the Potomac, including the battle of Gettysburg. 
Lieutenant Colonel James A. Sterling of Union County had 
served as a Captain in the 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, Army of the Cumberland, having been discharged by 
reason of wounds received at the battle of Chickamauga. 

Under these officers of long service, with many other vet- 
erans who had seen service at the front, the regiment became, 
in a short time, one of the best disciplined and best drilled 
regiments in the department to which it was assigned and 
was always depended on in any emergency. It may well be 
doubted if any other one-year regiment had a better record 
than the 174th, and the boys who served in it may well take a 
just pride in their services. 

Fourteen Jerome Township soldiers served in this regi- 
ment. The losses by death were one hundred and seventeen. 

187TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE-YEAR SERVICE. 

The 187th Regiment was one of the last full regiments 
recruited to serve one year under the call of President Lin- 



148 History of Jerome Township 

coin in July, 1864. One company of this regiment was re- 
cruited in Union County by Captain William P. Welsh and 
was the last company recruited in the county for Civil War 
service. It was composed largely of farmers, strong of body 
and lithe of limb, and there were great discrepancies in their 
ages. Many of the members were mere boys of twelve or thir- 
teen years of age when the war commenced. They had re- 
mained at home to do the farm work and care for the families 
while the older brothers had enlisted, and many of them had 
fallen on the battle line or died of disease. 

The boys who had been left at home had now grown to 
manhood and went forth to take the places of their fathers or 
brothers who had fallen. Then there were men of more 
mature years who had served in other organizations and were 
true and tried veterans. This was very fortunate, as the young 
boys, profiting by the experience and instructions of the vet- 
erans in the ranks, soon learned to care for their wants, both 
in camp and on the march, and were ready for campaigning in 
a few weeks, whereas if the regiment had been composed of 
all raw recruits, it would have taken months. Fourteen Jerome 
Township boys served in Company B of this regiment. 

The regiment was mustered in at Camp Chase, Ohio, March 
1st, 1864, under Colonel R. Z. Dawson and Lieut. Col. L. R. 
Davis, both veterans of service in other organizations. On the 
3rd of March the regiment received orders to report at Nash- 
ville and on to Dalton, Ga., where they went into camp, and 
through the months of March and April were employed in 
drilling and guard duty, and were brought to a high state of 
efficiency in discipline by their veteran officers. At one time 
the regiment was ordered out on a scout and made a hard night 
march down through Sugar Valley, south of Chattanooga, 
which was considered a hard introductory campaign, even by 
the veterans. The regiment marched to Kingston, Ga., where 
2,000 soldiers of the Confederate army of Lee and Johnson 
surrendered and were paroled, after which they returned to 
Dalton. When the railroads had been repaired the regiment 
was ordered to Macon by rail. 



History of Jerome Toivnship 149 

During the summer and fall of 1865 the regiment was on 
garrison duty at Macon. As the Confederate soldiers were 
returning to their homes and the citizens were necessarily re- 
questing many favors by reason of the fact that both the Union 
and Confederate armies, having passed through that section in 
the fall of 186-4, had stripped the country very largely of both 
forage and provisions, the duties of the regiment were com- 
plicated and arduous. 

The war having ended, the discipline among the troops out- 
side the garrison was very lax and caused a great deal of trou- 
ble to the Provost Guard, as they had to make many arrests. 
During the service of the regiment as Provost Guards they 
were very highly commended for discipline and soldierly bear- 
ing at all times as one of the best regiments in the service of 
that department. 

The losses in the regiment by death were fifty-four. The 
regiment was mustered out at Macon, Ga., January 20th, 1866, 
and was discharged and paid off at Camp Chase, Ohio, January 
23rd. 

191ST REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE- YEAR SERVICE. 

The 191st Regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, 
and mustered into the service March 10th, 1865, under Colonel 
Robert B. Kimberly, who had served as Lieutenant Colonel of 
the 41st O. V. I. ; Lieut. Col. Edward M. DriscoU, who had 
served as a Captain in the Third Ohio Infantry, and Maj. 
Nathaniel J. Manning, who had served as a Captain in the 25th 
O. V. I. It was very fortunate that the regiment was organ- 
ized under these veteran officers, and it was soon equipped 
and ready for the field. 

On the day of organization, the regiment was ordered to 
Winchester, Va., and reported to General Hancock, who was 
in command of the First Army Corps, but was intercepted 
by an order to stop at Harper's Ferry, and was assigned to a 
brigade composed of the 192nd O. V. I., 193rd O. V. I. and 
196th O. \. I., thus forming an Ohio brigade. 



150 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Colonel Kimberly having been promoted to Brigadier Gen- 
eral, was assigned to command the brigade. Soon after the 
organization of the corps, the designation was made Second 
Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Shenandoah. Strict 
discipline was inaugurated by Colonel Kimberly in the regi- 
ments composing the brigade, and a great deal of time was 
devoted to drill and practice marching. The brigade was re- 
viewed by 'General Hancock during the month of May. and 
was very highly complimented for their soldierly appearance 
while marching in review. 

The regiment served on garrison duty in the Shenandoah 
Valley during the summer, and during a part of its service 
was stationed at Winchester. The regiment was kept on 
duty continuously until the latter part of August, and was the 
last regiment retained in the Shenandoah. 

The losses by death were twenty-nine. Two Jerome Town- 
ship soldiers served in this regiment, Lieut. Henry Hensel and 
David B. Lattimer. The regiment was mustered out at Camp 
Chase. Ohio, September 3rd, 1865. 

19rTH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
ONE-YEAR SERVICE. 

The lOTth Regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, 
under the last call of the President for volunteers during the 
Civil \^^ar. It was mustered into service, one thousand strong, 
April 12th, 1S65, for one year, under Colonel Benton Halstead. 
and was the last regiment to leave the state. A majority of 
the officers and many of the rank and file had seen service in 
other regiments and were fully equipped and ready for service 
in the field as soon as mustered in. The regiment left Camp 
Chase for Washington April 25th. and on arrival was as- 
signed to the Ninth Army Corps and went into camp near 
Alexandria. \'a. It was assigned with the 215th Pennsylvania, 
155th Indiana, as the Provisional Brigade. 

Soon after this organization was completed the brigade was 
ordered by rail to Dover, Delaware, and was in camp for one 
month, employed in guard duty and drill. During the month 



History of Jerome Township 151 

of June the headquarters of the regiment were at Havre-de- 
Grace, Maryland, and detachments were sent out to guard the 
railroads and bridges toward Baltimore. While stationed here 
the designation of the regiment was changed to the Separate 
Brigade, Eighth Army Corps. 

During the month of July the regiment was stationed at 
Fort Worthington, near Baltimore, and performed garrison 
duty continuously until ordered to Ohio to be mustered out. 
But one Jerome Township soldier served in this regiment, 
Emanuel Lape. 

The regiment was composed of a splendid body of men, 
well drilled and disciplined, who were anxious for service in 
the field, but the war closed just as the regiment was mus- 
tered into service and before it reached the front. The loss by 
death was eighteen. The regiment was mustered out at Tod 
Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, August 6th, 1865. 

7TH INDEPENDENT COMPANY, OHIO SHARP- 
SHOOTERS, OR GEN. SHERMAN'S BODYGUARD. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

Ten companies of Sharpshooters were organized in Ohio 
and an effort was made to organize a regiment to be known as 
"Birge's Western Sharpshooters," but the organization was 
never completed. As the companies were recruited and sent 
to the front, they were attached to some regiment that did not 
have a full quota of men to commission the regimental officers. 

The Seventh Company of Independent Sharpshooters was 
organized at Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered into the three 
years' service on the 2Tth of January, 1863. 

Twenty-five men were recruited in Union County for this 
company, and Lieut. William M. McCrory, from Jerome 
Township, was promoted to a Captaincy. The soldiers 
from Union County who served in this company were farmer 
boys who had been accustomed to hunting with a rifle, and 
were fine shots. They preferred this service with the expecta- 
tion of being permitted to serve on the skirmish line and de- 
fenses as sharpshooters. Watson C. Squires was mustered in 



153 History of Jerome Township 

as Captain of the company ; William M. McCrory, First Lieu- 
tenant, and James Cox, Second Lieutenant. 

This company first served under Generals Rosecrans and 
Thomas, and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Look- 
out Mountain and Mission Ridge. At the commencement of 
the Atlanta campaign it was ordered to Gen. Sherman's head- 
quarters, and remained on duty near the person of the Com- 
manding General until the close of the war. 

The company was commanded by Captain Squire until he 
was detailed as Judge Advocate, after the battle of Chicka- 
mauga ; then by Captain McCrory, except during the march to 
the sea, when, in the absence of Captain McCrory, Lieutenant 
Cox assumed command. 

I saw Captain McCrory on the Atlanta campaign when he 
had command of the company. He informed me that the 
duties at General Sherman's headquarters were very pleasant 
and agreeable, yet he was anxious to be relieved and get out 
on the skirmish line, but General Sherman would not consent 
and the company was retained as his escort during the march 
to the sea and until the close of the war. 

Captain William McCrory was a fine shot himself and felt 
perfectly at home with a rifle in hand watching for a shot on 
the picket or skirmish line. After the march to the sea and 
through the Carolinas the company was in the grand review 
at Washington. It was ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, and 
mustered out July 28th, 1865. 

Three Union County soldiers of this company died in the 
service, and a number were taken prisoner at Kingston, Ga., 
November 8th, 1864. Sergeant William B. Haines was a pris- 
oner of war, was in Andersonville for some months, and can 
relate some harrowing incidents of the suflferings of Union 
soldiers in that prison. 

The company took an honorable part in fifteen battles and 
skirmishes. The loss by death was eighteen. On its depart- 
ure for Ohio for muster-out General Sherman issued the 
following : 

"The General Commanding tenders to officers and men of 








JOSEPH KAHLER 
ISth I'. S. I. 



CLARK li. BARLOAV 
Or.th O. V. I. 




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HRXRY KAIII.KR 
M!(h <>. V. I. 



DAVID K. >l<-KITKI<'Iv 
174(li O. \. I. 




SAM r 101, H. CARSOX 

i::sui o. V, I. 



DELMORK SXODORASS 
40th O. V. 1. 




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CORPOH \l, ( II VKI.r.S S. roMSTlM K (ORPORAI- JOHN T. MoClLLOlIGH 

itiiii <». \. I. i:(«t«h o. V. I. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 153 

the Seventh Independent Company of the Ohio Sharpshooters 
his personal thanks for their long and valuable services near 
his person in the eventful campaign beginning at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., and ending v^ith the war. He commends them as a fine 
body of intelligent young volunteers, to v^hom he attributes 
his personal safety in the battles, marches and bivouacs in 
Georgia and the Carolinas. He wishes them long life and a 
proud consciousness of having done their duty with a cheerful- 
ness, precision and intelligence worthy the great cause in which 
they were engaged, and he bespeaks for them a kind and gen- 
erous welcome back to their old home in Ohio." 



TENTH OHIO BATTERY, LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This battery was organized at Xenia, Ohio, and was mus- 
tered into the service at Camp Dennison on the 3rd day of 
March, 1863, under Captain Hamilton B. White. It was 
armed and equipped soon after muster in, and was ordered to 
St. Louis, and from there to go up the Tennessee River by 
boat to Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived April 13th, one 
week after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, fought April 
6th and ?th. 

The 13th Ohio Battery, which had participated in the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, was unfortunate in taking a posi- 
tion where the horses were shot down, and the battery was 
captured by the enemy. The members of the battery were 
transferred to other batteries and the Thirteenth was dis- 
banded. Among the number so transferred was Charles M. 
Adams of Jerome Township, who was transferred to the 
Tenth Battery. 

I saw him on the battlefield the next day after the battle, 
and he was very much depressed. As tears came to his eyes 
he informed me that he was a gunner in the 13th Battery and 
was mourning the loss of the gun and the unfortunate condi- 
tion of his command. He served in the 10th Ohio Battery 
until January 16th, 1863. was discharged on disability, but 



154 History of Jerome Township 

again reenlisted in Company C, 174th O. V. I., and served to 
the end of the war. 

The 10th Ohio Battery participated in the siege of Corinth, 
Miss., in April and May, 1862, and after the evacuation of 
Corinth was on garrison duty at Corinth until September, and 
during September was at luka. The battery participated in 
the battle of Corinth October 4th, and did yeoman service in 
repelling the attacks of the rebel infantry by firing grape and 
canister at short range. 

In November the battery moved to Grand Junction. Dur- 
ing the winter of 1863 it was at Milliken's Bend a part of the 
time; in May was sent to Grand Gulf, and from this point 
went on a number of expeditions and had considerable skir- 
mishing with cavalry of the enemy. In June the battery was 
on duty at Vicksburg, Big Black, and Jackson. 

During the winter the battery was at Vicksburg and vicin- 
ity and was remounted and equipped at Cairo in May, 1864. 
The battery was then ordered to join General Sherman's army 
in Georgia, arrived at Ackworth May 16th, and was continu- 
ously on the firing line during the Atlanta campaign. After 
the fall of Atlanta the battery was ordered to Nashville with 
General Thomas' army, remaining at Nashville through the 
winter and in March the Tenth and Fourth Ohio Batteries 
were consolidated. 

In April it was ordered to East Tennessee and was on duty 
at London until ordered to Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mus- 
tered out July 17th, 1865. The losses by death were eighteen. 

THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS. OR MINUTE MEN. 

In September, 1862, the Confederate Army under General 
Kirby Smith, marching up through the State of Kentucky, 
threatened to invade Ohio. 

Governor Tod issued a proclamation calling upon the citi- 
zens of Ohio to rally to the defense of Cincinnati. He said: 
"Our Southern border is threatened with invasion. I there- 
fore recommend that all loyal men form themselves into mili- 



History of Jerome Toivnship 155 

tary companies to beat back the enemy at all points he may 
attempt to invade the State.'' 

In response to this call two companies went from Union 
County, aggregating about one hundred men in all, many of 
them old and gray-haired, prominent among whom was the 
Rev. B. D. Evans, a very intelligent old Welshman and Pres- 
byterian minister of Jerome Township. They went with their 
shotguns, rifles, powder horns and shot pouches. "They re- 
sponded gloriously to the call for the defense of Cincinnati, 
and you should acknowledge publicly this gallant conduct," 
said Governor Tod in a dispatch to the Secretary of War. 
These men were denominated "Squirrel Hunters" and were, 
by act of the Legislature, given honorable discharges. 

Sixteen men of Jerome Township responded to this call 
and went to Cincinnati. Some of them crossed over the Ohio 
River into Kentucky and assisted in building the breastworks 
around Covington. While their service was not arduous, yet 
they responded to the call cheerfully and patriotically, and 
no doubt this prompt response had a great moral effect and 
was a revelation to the rebels that the North had a great re- 
serve army ready at all times to respond to the call "to arms," 
as did the "Minute Men" of the War of the Revolution. 

About 14,000 assembled at Cincinnati under this call of 
Governor Tod, and a few years ago the Legislature of Ohio 
made an appropriation to pay each survivor $13.00 in full for 
his services, this being the regular pay per month of volun- 
teers at that time. They were all given discharges, of which 
the following is a copy : 

Our Southern Border zvas menaced by the enemies of our 
Union. David Tod, Governor of Ohio, called on the Minute 
Men of the State and the "Squirrel Hunters" came by thou- 
sands to the rescue. You ( _ ) were one of them 

and this is your honorable discharge. 

September, 1862. Chas. W. Hill, 

David Tod, Governor. Adj. Gen. of Ohio. 



156 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

18TH REGIMENT, UNITER STATES INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

The 18th Regiment, United States Infantry, was organized 
and largely recruited at Camp Thomas, near Columbus, Ohio, 
in the summer and fall of 1861. It was the intention to or- 
ganize a regiment of twenty-four companies in three battal- 
ions of eight companies each, but the third battalion was not 
fully recruited and the regiment was organized in two battal- 
ions of ten companies each. 

Henry B. Carrington, who was Adjutant General of Ohio, 
was appointed the first Colonel, but never served with the 
regiment in the field, although he remained in the service on 
detached duty and was promoted to Brigadier-General. 
About forty men were recruited in Union County for this 
regiment, and of this number fifteen died on the field. 
Twelve enlisted from Jerome Township, and of that number 
six died in the army. 

In the winter of 1861-62 the regiment was on duty in 
Kentucky and was ordered to Nashville in the early spring 
of 1862. From Nashville they marched with General Buell's 
army to Pittsburg Landing in General George H. Thomas' 
Division, but did not arrive in time to participate in the battle 
of April 6th and 7th. 

The regiment was actively engaged in that terrible cam- 
paign of rain and mud from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth 
during the months of April and May. After the evacuation 
of Corinth they moved with General Buell's army east toward 
Chattanooga, and on to Nashville during the summer. Up to 
this date the regiment had not been engaged in any hard 
battles, but had some sharp skirmishes during the siege of 
Corinth. 

A brigade of Regular Army regiments was organized at 
Nashville, Tenn., in December, 1862, composed of battalions 
from the 15th, 16th, 18th and 19th U. S. Infantry and the 5th 
U. S. Battery. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver S. Shepherd of the 
18th Infantry was assigned to command the brigade. The 
brigade was designated as the Fourth Brigade, First Division, 



History of Jerome Township 157 

14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. This was one 
of the best organized fighting machines in the "Grand Old 
Army of the Cumberland," and a brief statistical history of 
its campaigns, terrific fighting and great losses on the battle 
lines is all that can be given in the limited space that can be 
taken in this Township History. 

On the 31st of December, 1862, the 18th Regiment, with 
the brigade, was engaged in the battle of Stone River. The 
regiment was under fire continuously during the day and was 
ordered to different weakened lines on the field and suffered 
its heaviest loss in the cedars, as they were in such close con- 
tact with the enemy the Union lines were being driven back 
when the 18th Regiment arrived as support. General Rous- 
seau, commanding the Division, says in his report : 

"On that body of brave men the shock fell heaviest, and 
the loss was most severe. Over one-third of the command 
fell killed or wounded, but it stood up to the work and bravely 
breasted the storm. * * * Without them we could not 
have held our position in the center." The 18th Regiment 
went into this battle with 5T1 men and the loss in killed and 
wounded was 278. 

The campaign closing with a victory for the Union arms, 
the brigade, having buried its dead on the battlefield, where 
there is now a monument erected to their memory, marched 
on the fifth day of January, 1863, from its last position on 
the field to Murfreesboro and encamped between the Shelby- 
ville and Salem Turnpikes, near the town. 

The regiment moved with the army from Murfreesboro 
on the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaign, June 2-4th, and 
took a prominent part in all of that campaign up to the battle 
of Chickamauga. Just before this battle the brigade was 
placed under command of General John H. King. The regi- 
ment participated in the battle of Chickamauga on both the 
19th and 20th of September, 1863. The fighting was terrific 
and some of the battalions were almost annihilated. 

Here the battery of the brigade was captured, but was 
soon retaken by a charge of the Ninth Ohio Infantry. The 



158 History of Jerome Tozi'iiship 

loss in the regiment in the two days' fighting was 291. In the 
battle of Missionary Ridge the regiment captured a battery 
with a loss of twenty-nine. During the fall and winter 
months of 186-i the regiment was in camp near Chattanooga, 
but was sent out on a number of reconnoitering expeditions. 
When the Atlanta campaign commenced, in May, 1864, the 
ISth Regiment had been recruited up to 650 men from 270 
after the battle of Chickamauga. 

On the Atlanta campaign from May 5th to September 1st, 
1864, the regiment participated in almost every battle for 100 
days, and in the last battle of the campaign, at Jonesboro, the 
loss was forty-eight. The total loss on the Atlanta campaign 
was two hundred and twenty-six. After the fall of Atlanta 
the regiment was sent back to Lookout Mountain, where it 
remained on duty until August, 1865, and the battalions were 
sent to different parts of the country. Colonel Oliver L. 
Shepherd commanded the regiment during the greater part 
of the Civil War with most distinguished ability. 

The battalions were under command of line officers in 
many of the campaigns. Major Frederick Townsend was in 
command of a battalion during many of the hard battles and 
until he was promoted successively to Colonel and Brigadier- 
General. Many other officers whose names might be men- 
tioned commanded battalions, but they cannot all be named. 
The percentage of killed and wounded among the officers was 
very heavy, and among others Lieutenant James Mitchell of 
Union County died near Chattanooga, Tenn., a short time 
before the battle of Chickamauga. 

The regiment served continuously in the Army of the 
Cumberland and participated in every great battle of that 
army and in scores of skirmishes. The best evidence of their 
hard service is a statement of the losses: 

Total losses by death ...._ _.. 470 

Killed and wounded 606 

Missing in action 135 

Total casualties 741 



History of Jerome Township 159 

The reports of the officers of the command, from brigade 
to company commanders, which have been examined, speak 
in the highest terms of the bravery and devotion of both of- 
ficers and men in the many hard battles in which the regiment 
participated, in many cases mentioning the names of private 
soldiers for heroic deeds on the battlefield. To the boys who 
served in this regiment from Jerome Township is due the 
gratitude of all patriotic citizens for their devotion to the 
cause of the Union. 

27TH REGIMENT, U. S. COLORED INFANTRY. 
THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Delaware, Ohio, 
from January 16th to August 6th, 1864, to serve three years. 
Shortly after being mustered into the service of the United 
States the regiment was ordered to Camp Casey, Washington, 
D. C, where it was stationed awhile, doing garrison duty. 
Thence the regiment went to City Point and Petersburg, Va., 
it being at the latter place that it distinguished itself for un- 
surpassed gallantry and good conduct upon the battlefield. 
The bravery of this regiment was also displayed at Chapin's 
Farm and at Weldon Railroad. 

The regiment was sent down into North Carolina, where 
it was engaged a part of the time in doing garrison duty, and 
the other part of the time in taking part in the operations, 
including the skirmishes in and around Fort Fisher, Wilming- 
ton, Goldsboro and Raleigh. It did heroic service, won the 
confidence and approval of its superior officers, and after as 
honorable service as any of the regiments, it was mustered out 
of the U. S. service September 21st, 1865, at Smithville, N. C. 
The Roll of Honor of this regiment will show eighteen killed 
in action and one hundred and forty-nine died in hospital of 
disease or wounds received in battle. 

Joseph Butcher of Jerome Township served in this regi- 
ment with nine other soldiers who enlisted in Union County. 

WHierever colored troops were engaged in battle during 
the Civil W^ar they acquitted themselves in a manner which 



160 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

fully justified the Government in enlisting their services. The 
first colored regiment organized during the war was recruited 
in New Orleans, was mustered into the service September 
27th, 1862, and was known as the First Louisiana Native 
Guard. The first colored regiment organized in Northern 
States was the 54th Massachusetts, recruited in the spring 
of 1863. 

The total number of colored troops enlisted during the 
Civil War was 1T8.9T5, and the losses by death were 36,847. 

47TH REGIMENT, U. S. C. T. 

The 47th Regiment. United States Colored Troops, served 
in the Southwest and participated in the battles of Milliken's 
Bend, the campaign against Mobile, Alabama, the siege and 
storming of Fort Blakely, and other minor engagements. 
The total losses in the regiment by death were four hundred 
and thirty-two. 

Dunallen M. Woodburn of Jerome Township served in 
this regiment from the summer of 1864 until January 5th, 
1866, as Drum Major. He first enlisted in the 58th Regi- 
ment, O. V. I., January 16th, 1862, and was transferred to 
the 47th Regiment, U. S. C. T., having a total service of three 
years and eleven months. 

UNITED STATES NAVY. 

Major Llewellyn B. Curry, Paymaster. 

Daniel R. Cone. 

So far as can be ascertained by careful inquiry, the above 
named are the only two young men who enlisted from Jerome 
Township in the U. S. Navy during the Civil War. They 
served under Admiral Farragut in the Mississippi Squadron 
on the same gunboats, and participated in some of the hardest 
naval battles on the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mississippi 
Rivers. They were first assigned to the gunboat "St. Louis." 
and during their service the name was changed to the "Baron 
de Kalb," which was sunk on the Yazoo River by a torpedo. 

They participated in the battle of Fort Henry on the Ten- 



History of Jerome Toivnship 161 

nessee River; Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River; 
Island No. 10, Columbus, Ky ; Fort Wright; the destruction 
of the rebel fleet off Memphis, and an expedition up White 
River, Ark. They were afterward on duty at Memphis. 

The Baron de Kalb was in continuous service patroling 
the river and shelling forts until she was sunk. Admiral 
Farragut was one of the most distinguished naval officers of 
the war, and these boys were very fortunate in having had 
the opportunity to serve under him and participate in these 
decisive naval battles. 

Fort Donelson surrendered February IG, 1862, and my 
regiment passed up the Cumberland River on boats about the 
1st of March and saw the wreck and havoc of the fort, and 
timber along the river banks mowed down by the shells from 
the gunboats, which gave us the after-glimpse of that terrible 
battle. 

Daniel R. Cone wrote a letter to his family at home, in 
which he gave a most thrilling description of the battle of 
Fort Danelson, equal to that given of the storming of the 
castle in "Ivanhoe." A part of this letter was written during 
the engagement, giving the time and the location on the gun- 
boat where the balls from the guns in the fort were striking 
the vessel with such terrific force that it was expected the 
hulls of the boats would be pierced and the boats sunk at any 
moment. 

They enlisted January lith, 1862, and were discharged 
September 30th, 1862, and during that period were in a suf- 
ficient number of engagements to have satisfied even Paul 
Jones. 

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 

In the Spanish-American War, 1898, soldiers of Jerome 
Township served in three different regiments. Three served 
in the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and were 
engaged in a battle with the Spaniards at Guayama, Porto 
Rico, August 5, 1898. Three served in the First Ohio Cavalry, 
but did not leave the United States. Three served in the 



162 History of Jerome Township 

Seventeenth Regiment. United States Infantry, and partici- 
pated in the battle of El Caney, Cuba, July 1, 1898. The his- 
tory of the services of each of the above named regiments ap- 
pears in this volume. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR— 1898. 
4TH REGIMENT, OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

After the sinking of the battleship "Maine" at Havana, 
Cuba, and declaration of war with Spain, the Ohio National 
Guard responded to the first call for troops and were the 
nucleus to which the volunteers rallied, and with their well- 
drilled and disciplined officers, within thirty days a great 
army was organized and ready to take the field. 

The United States was at peace with the world and had 
a standing army of 25,000 men. In three months after war 
was declared an army of a quarter of a million men was or- 
ganized, equipped, and a campaign was conducted on both land 
and water, separated by thousands of miles, and the enemy was 
defeated without a single reverse — all in a period of but one 
hundred days. As a writer has stated. "It was an achievement 
unparalleled in the history of warfare, which will be referred 
to by military critics of the future as the military marvel of 
the age." 

Many members of the National Guard \^olunteers were 
sons of veterans of both the blue and the gray ; they were of 
the same blood and had the vim and pluck of their fathers 
who fought the battles of the war which cost nearly 1,000,000 
lives. These soldiers marched shoulder to shoulder and touched 
elbows on the line of battle, under the same flag. 

The Fourteenth Regiment. Ohio National Guard, with 
headquarters at Columbus, Ohio, was the first regiment to go 
into quarters at Camp Bushnell, near Columbus. On the 9th 
day of May, 1898, the regiment was mustered into the United 
States service, and the designation was changed to the Fourth 
Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The field officers were 
Colonel Alonzo B. Coit. Lieutenant Colonel Barton Adams, 



History of Jerome Toiviiship 163 

and Majors of the three battalions were John C. Speaks, John 
L. Sellers and Charles V. Baker. 

The Fourteenth Regiment was organized during the sum- 
mer of 1877, had been in the state service continuously, and 
had been called into active service in the state during strikes 
and riots, fifteen times. Company D was mustered into the 
state service at Marysville July 18th, 1877, and the writer was 
the first Captain of the Company. There had been many 
changes in the company officers as well as in the rank and 
file. During the more than twenty years' service, several hun- 
dred men had been in the ranks and the esprit du corps was 
always of a high standard. 

Company D of Union County was mustered into the United 
States service for the Spanish War under Captain Charles F. 
Sellers, one hundred and five strong. Captain Sellers was a 
charter member of the company, as was Major John L. Sellers, 
when the company was organized in 1877. Three Jerome 
Township soldiers served in this company during the Spanish 
War. They have the proud distinction of serving in the only 
Ohio regiment which was under fire during the war, and this 
baptism of fire was at Guayama, Porto Rico, August 5, 1898. 

May loth the regiment was ordered to Camp George H. 
Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga., and on arrival was assigned 
to the Second Brigade, Second Division, First Army Corps. 
The regiment was in camp at Chickamauga Park, drilling and 
equipping, until orders were received to proceed to Newport 
News by rail, July 22nd. 

Arriving at Newport News the regiment boarded the 
steamer St. Paul, commanded by Captain Sigsbee, and on 
August 1st arrived off Guanico, Porto Rico. General Miles 
boarded the St. Paul at this point and ordered the regiment 
armed with the Krag-Jorgensen rifles, of which a supply was 
aboard the ship. The regiment arrived at Arroyo August 2nd, 
and was immediately landed. Under orders from General 
Haines the regiment made a demonstration toward Guayama 
with a section of artillery and the Third Illinois in support. 

With Major Speaks conducting the advance, the regiment 



164 History of Jerome Toicnship 

moved forward. The advance soon struck the enemy, the 
skirmishers were hotly engaged and the enemy fell back. The 
flankers advanced cautiously and balls from the Mausers whis- 
tled thick and fast, but too high to do much damage, as the 
Spaniards were firing from an elevation, and were overshoot- 
ing. 

The regiment, after the first skirmish, moved forward rap- 
idly and the firing was general all along the line. The city was 
soon reached by the advance, and finding that the enemy had 
retreated, the American flag was hoisted over the city build- 
ings. The Spaniards kept up a desultory fire as they fell back 
until the dynamite guns of the Fourth Regiment were brought 
into action, which soon silenced their Mausers. 

Reconnoitering parties were sent out frequently for some 
days. A number of skirmishes were had with the enemy, 
and the dynamite guns were brought into action a number of 
times. In one of these skirmishes six men were wounded, 
including William Walcutt of Company D, wounded in the 
foot. 

In their baptism of fire at Guayama, the officers and men 
acquitted themselves like veterans of long service and were 
highly complimented by the commanding officer. 

After the signing of the peace protocol, August 13th, the 
regimental headquarters were retained at Guayama until the 
5th day of October. A number of the companies were sent 
out to various parts of the island on detached duty, while 
others were retained as Provost Guards at headquarters. Com- 
pany D was sent to Humocoa under Captain Sellers and he 
proved himself a diplomat in the reorganization of civil affairs, 
as he was the governor in fact during the time he occupied 
the town with his command. 

There was a great deal of sickness in all of the commands, 
the prevailing diseases being some form of tropical fever, and 
the surgeons and hospital corps were kept busy. 

The regiment sailed from San Juan on the U. S. steamship 
Chester. (Jctober 2!)th. arriving at Jersey City November 3rd. 
By telegraphic orders from President McKinley the regiment 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 165 

was ordered to Washington, where it was reviewed by the 
President and arrived in Columbus November 6th. Sixty 
days' furlough was given and the regiment again assembled 
at Columbus and was discharged January 20th, 1899. 

The citizens of Union County were particularly interested 
in the service of Company D of the Fourth Regiment, as there 
was scarcely a family in Marysville or vicinity that did not 
have some member of the family in the company during the 
many years' service in the National Guard. Two Lieutenant 
Colonels of the regiment, W. L. Curry and Wm. M. Liggett, 
were from Jerome Township. Colonel Liggett had been seri- 
ously wounded in the Cincinnati riots in 1884. Therefore, 
not only the families of the members of the Company in the 
service during the war were solicituous to hear from the front 
as the war progressed, but all patriotic citizens were interested. 

While the company was not permitted to participate in 
any severe battles, yet it had many hard marches in that trop- 
ical climate, and I confess that I was very much delighted 
when the news was received that the regiment had been "under 
fire" and heard the whistling of the Mauser balls from the 
guns of the Spaniards. 

Had the war continued and the opportunity been given for 
further service and severe fighting, the Fourth Regiment would 
not have been "found wanting," no matter what the service 
may have been. The members of the regiment and their 
friends can always point with pride to their good work, both 
in the National Guard and the Spanish-American War. 

THE FIRST OHIO CAVALRY — SPANISH- 
AMERICAN WAR. 

Eight companies of cavalry were recruited and organized 
in Ohio for the Spanish-American War. The two battalions 
of four companies each were mustered into the service at 
Camp Bushnell, near Columbus, Ohio, May 9th, 1898. On 
the 14th day of May the regiment was ordered to Camp 
Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga. By the 1st of June the com- 
panies were fully recruited, equipped and mounted. The com- 



166 History of Jerome Township 

mand was to be armed with Krag-Jorgensen carbines and their 
mounts and equipments were of the best that could be fur- 
nished by the government. They were assigned to the Second 
Brigade, Cavalry Division, General Joseph Wheeler com- 
manding. 

The regiment proceeded to Lakeland, Florida, by rail, leav- 
ing Camp Thomas July 13th, and was entrained at Ringold, 
Ga. Before transportation could be secured for either Cuba 
or Porto Rico, the peace protocol was signed and the services 
of the regiment were not required. They went into camp at 
Lakeland and were employed in camp duty and drill until Au- 
gust 20th, when they were ordered to Huntsville, Alabama. 

The regiment was encamped at Huntsville until September 
13th ; then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, for muster out. The 
troops were given thirty days' furlough. Troops A, B, and C 
were mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio. October 22nd, Troop 
H was mustered out at Cincinnati, and the other four troops 
were mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, on expiration of their 
furloughs. 

The regiment was composed of good material, was well 
officered, and had become q.uite efficient in drill for the short 
period of their service. It was unfortunate that they were 
not fully armed when General Wheeler's command embarked 
for Cuba, as they would have had opportunity for active serv- 
ice under a cavalry leader who had seen long and hard service 
during the Civil War. 

Troop G of this regiment was largely recruited in Union 
County, and three members of the troop were Jerome Town- 
ship soldiers. It was no fault of officers or men of the com- 
mand that they did not have opportunity for active service, 
as every effort was made to secure arms and full equipment 
before the cavalry command embarked for Cuba, but the fates 
were against them, much to their disappointment. 

THE 17TH REGIMENT, UNITED STATES INFANTRY. 
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 1898. 
When war was declared against Spain, the Seventeenth 
Regiment was stationed at the U. S. Barracks, Columbus, 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 167 

Ohio, where they had been on duty for several years. They 
were a splendid body of men and many of the officers had 
seen long service, a number of them having served in the Civil 
War. Among the names recalled are Major Sharp, Captain 
O'Brien, Captain Roberts and Captain Rogers. Colonel Po- 
land and Lieutenant Colonel Haskell had long service, and it 
may well be doubted if there was a better officered or better 
equipped regiment in the service of the 25,000 men composing 
the United States Army at that time. 

Having been personally acquainted with many of these 
officers, some of whom were members of the military order of 
the Loyal Legion and others of the Society of the Sons of the 
American Revolution, now that the majority have been mus- 
tered out by the Great Commander, the cherished memories of 
those pleasant meetings come trooping thick and fast. Not 
only were they brave soldiers, but gentlemen of intelligence 
and high character. 

Under orders the regiment left the Columbus (Ohio) Bar- 
racks in April, 1898, under command of Colonel Poland, for 
Tampa, Florida, and was encamped at Tampa, employed in 
usual garrison duty, drilling and equipping for an active cam- 
paign in the field. Colonel Poland died of disease at Tampa 
and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph T. Haskell succeeded to the 
command of the regiment. June 2nd, under orders, the regi- 
ment embarked on transports and landed at Bagarie, Cuba. 
General Shafter, commanding the United States Army, num- 
bering 15,000 men, was preparing for an aggressive campaign 
against the Spaniards, who were strongly fortified at El Caney. 

The regiment had their first skirmish with the Spanish 
army in the advance on El Caney, June 30th. The battle of 
El Caney was fought July 1st, 1898, in which the regiment 
participated, together with the United States Army of 15,000 
soldiers under General Shafter. and was particularly distin- 
guished for the bravery of the officers and men. The losses 
in the regiment is the best evidence of the prominence of the 
regiment in that battle, there being forty-four killed and 
wounded and seven missing. 



168 History of Jerome Toivnship 

Of this number Lieutenant Miche and Lieutenant Dicken- 
son were killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Haskell, commanding 
the regiment, was mortally wounded. The total losses in 
General Shafter's army were twenty-two officers and two hun- 
dred and eight men killed ; eighty-one officers and twelve hun- 
dred and three men wounded ; and twenty-seven missing, a 
total of fifteen hundred and forty-one. 

Sergeant George Kelley, who was seriously wounded in the 
battle, made a miraculous recovery. A Mauser ball passed 
entirely through his body, and he gives a most graphic de- 
scription of that battle. He is now in business near the U. S. 
Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, and his place of business is a fa- 
vorite stopping place for his old comrades and all soldiers. 

The regiment returned to the U. S. Barracks at Columbus 
in the fall of 1898, and had a parade through the streets. 
Colonel Haskell, although suffering from his wound and very 
weak, rode at the head of his regiment in a carriage, looking 
every inch the brave soldier that he was. The same evening 
he died from the result of his wounds and was mourned by 
the officers and men of his regiment as the "brave mourn for 
the brave." 

After recruiting, one battalion of the regiment was or- 
dered to the Philippine Islands for duty in February, 1899, and 
was soon followed by the other battalions. The regiment saw 
a great deal of hard service in the insurrection and the losses 
by death were quite heavy. 

The regiment is now stationed at Fort Oglethorp, Chicka- 
mauga Park, Georgia, under command of Colonel Van Orton. 

Three Jerome Township soldiers served in the 17th Regi- 
ment during the Spanish-American War. as shown by the 
roster. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF COLONEL GEORGE 
RUEHLEN. UNITED STATES ARMY. 
Born in W'urtemberg, Germany, September 21st, 1847. 
Came to the United States in the early winter of 1852 and 
settled in Jerome Township. L^nion County. Ohio. Attended 
the common schools of Jerome Township. -and from Septem- 




JOHN It. ItOltlNSOX 

::2ii(i o. V. I. 



SAMl Kl, II. K<>lll\SO\ 
40th O. V. I. 




DKI.^IOItK i{<>lll\SO\ 
•itilh O. V. I. 



.SKKGK.WT tllKSTKH I,. KOIIINSO.V 
120th (>. \ . I. 




IIKHKIt A\OOnillR\ 
lS7th O. V. I. 



SERGE.WT \M)Hi:\\ .1. S>IITH 

!h:iii (>. v. I. 




DAVID II. UdODItlKN 
IHtth O. V. I. 



Dr\\i.i.i:\ >i. wooDiiiuN 

Drum Mnior, 471 h I . S. <". T. 



History of Jerome Township 169 

ber, 1863, to June, 1866, the Central High School of Colum- 
bus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in June, 1866. 

He then entered the law office of Mr. James W. Robinson 
in Marysville, Ohio, as a student, in the summer of 1S67. En- 
tered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New 
York, under an appointment received through Hon. John 
Beatty, M. C, in June, 1868, and was graduated at that insti- 
tution number 16 in a class of 56 members, June, 14th, 1872. 

He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the ITth U. S. 
Infantry and joined his company, which was then stationed 
at the Cheyenne River Indian Agency, on the Missouri River 
in South Dakota. Served at that post on the Indian frontier 
among the Sioux and Minnecoujoix Indians until the spring 
of 1877, when he was detached from his command and sent 
with an expedition to the junction of the Big Horn and Little 
Big Horn Rivers in Montana, where he served as quartermas- 
ter in charge of the construction of the military post, Fort 
Custer, remaining on that duty until June, 1878, when he was 
transferred to the Black Hill country in South Dakota and 
as quartermaster had charge of the construction of the military 
post, Fort Meade, near Deadwood, South Dakota, until the 
spring of 1879, when he again joined his company at Fort 
Sisseton, Minnesota, and remained with it until June, 1881, 
when he was appointed Professor of Military Science and 
Tactics at the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, at 
which place he served until July, 1884. 

Returned to duty with his company, then stationed at Fort 
Totten, North Dakota, in September, 1884, and went with the 
company to Fort D. A. Russell, near Cheyenne, Wyoming. 
Appointed Adjutant of the 17th Infantry in September, 1889, 
and transferred to the Quartermaster's Department as Captain 
and Assistant Quartermaster, in August, 1890. As Quarter- 
master he took part in the Pine Ridge Indian uprising and 
campaign from December. 1890, to February, 1891. Was 
transferred in the spring of 1891 to El Paso, Texas, to take 
charge of construction of the new post. Fort Bliss. Trans- 
ferred to Detroit. Mich., for construction work at Fort Wayne, 

12 



170 History of Jerome Toivnship 

thence to Fort Riley, Kansas, and from there, in the winter 
of 1897-98, to Southeastern Alaska, as Quartermaster of the 
Alaska Relief Expedition. 

At the outbreak of the Spanish war, in the spring of 1898, 
Captain Ruehlen was at Dyea, Alaska, and in May, 1898, was 
sent to San Francisco, Cal, where he was assigned to duty in 
connection with the preparation of transports carrying troops 
and supplies to the Philippine Islands. Was transferred to 
Honolulu, Hawaii, in August, 1898, as Depot Quartermaster 
and in charge of the transport service there, where he re- 
mained until September, 1900, when he was sent to Seattle, 
Washington, for duty as Depot Quartermaster there. 

On duty in the office of the Quartermaster General in 
Washington, D. C, in charge of the Department of Construc- 
tion and Repair, from March, 1902, to May, 1908. Depot 
Quartermaster at Jeffersonville, Ind., May, 1908, to May, 1909. 
In the Quartermaster General's office, Washington. D. C, from 
May, 1909, to June, 1911. 

Retired from active service, having reached the limit of 
age established by law, in September, 1911. 

His successive promotions in the Regular .A-rmy were: 
Second Lieutenant, 17th Infantry. June 14th. 1872 ; First Lieu- 
tenant, 17th Infantry, September, 187(3; Captain-Assistant 
Quartermaster, August, 1890; Major and Quartermaster, 
January, 1900 ; Lieutenant Colonel, August, 1903 ; Colonel and 
Assistant Quartermaster General. February, 1908. 

MEXICAN WAR— 1846. 

On the 4th day of July. 1845, Texas became a State of the 
Union. The Mexican Minister at Washington had, previous 
to this time, ceased diplomatic relations with the United States, 
and soon after General Zachary Taylor was ordered to enter 
Texas with his arms to protect the border, and by reason of 
the annexation of Texas it became evident that war was in- 
evitable. 

\\'hen the call was made for volunteers in 1846 and 1847 
to invade Mexico and settle the question of the annexation of 



History of Jerome Toivnship 171 

Texas, the young men of Ohio responded gallantly to the call. 
The State furnished four full regiments of infantry, several 
companies of cavalry, and quite a large number for the artil- 
lery service — in all, upward of sixty companies, and now^ but 
one muster roll can be found on file in the Adjutant General's 
office at Columbus. 

Thirty-four Union County soldiers served in the Mexican 
V\'ar. two of whom were from Jerome Township — William 
Clevinger and Alexander Oliver — who served in Company E, 
Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Captain James 
Cutler, who enlisted in Jerome Township during the War of 
the Rebellion, served in the Second Regiment, United States 
Infantry, in the Mexican War. and the service of William 
Lamme, buried at New California, is not known. 

The regiment in which Captain Cutler served participated 
in many of the hard battles and was a part of the army which 
first entered Mexico City. 

As the majority of the Union County soldiers served in the 
Fourth Ohio Regiment, an extract from a history of their 
services is copied, as follows : 

"On May 29th, 1847, a company recruited at Columbus 
moved to Cincinnati, which was the place appointed for the 
regimental rendezvous, and was assigned as Company E of 
the Fourth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Colonel C. H. 
Brough. Lieutenant Colonel Warner, Major Young, and Ad- 
jutant Kessler. 

"On the 1st of July boats were ready in the river opposite 
the camp and the regiment took passage for New Orleans. 
Company E, under the command of Captain M. C. Lilley, was 
placed on the steamer Alhambra. 

"New Orleans was reached on the 7th, and after remaining 
at this place until the 11th, the troops went on board the 
steamer Telegraph, arriving in sight of Brazos. Santiago, on 
the morning of the 16th. On the 18th Matamoras was reached 
and the regiment went into camp certain of being in the 
enemy's country. The camp was situated nearly opposite Fort 
Brown, on the Texas side, and adjacent to it was a fine parade 



172 History of Jerome TozviisJiip 

ground, of which good use was made every day. In the latter 
part of August orders were received to proceed to Vera Cruz 
and march to General Scott's line of operations. Accordingly 
on the 4th of September the regiment took steamboats and de- 
scended the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here it remained until 
the 11th, when shipping being ready at Brazos, it marched over 
to that place, embarked on the sailing ship Tahmroo on the 
12th, and on the evening of the 15th hove in sight of the sand 
hills near Vera Cruz. The following morning the Tahmroo 
ran in to the bay and cast anchor near the great castle of San 
Juan de Ullua. 

Having landed the torops, they marched to a place about 
four miles north of the city and encamped on the beach. On 
the 19th a brigade was formed of the following troops : 
Fourth Ohio Regiment. Fourth Indiana Regiment, Captain 
Simmons' Battalion of Detached Regulars, and the Louisiana 
Dragoons, all under the command of General Joseph Lane of 
Indiana. Tents were struck and the long march commenced. 

"About noon on the following day, as the troops entered a 
kind of woodland, the advance guard fell in with a party of 
guerillas, gave them chase, and killed and captured several. 
In this chase Lieutenant Coleman of Columbus died from the 
effects of heat and fatigue. On the 21st the troops again 
moved forward, but after marching several miles, stopped at 
Paso de Ovejas, where they remained until the 25th, then pro- 
ceeded to Plan del Rio, and on the morning of the 27th moved 
forward, ascending the hills between the river and the heights 
of Cerro Gordo. This place, though picturesque in appear- 
ance, is remarkable only from the fact that here Santa Anna 
and his army met with a signal defeat. 

"On the 1st of October the brigade started on the march 
toward the hills of Montezumas ; on the 7th arrived at a place 
near the Aguas Calientes, or Hot Springs, and on the 8th pro- 
ceeded on the way with the understanding that Santa Anna 
was at Huamantla and would probably intercept them at Pass 
el Pinal. Early on the morning of the 9th General Lane drew 
off all the troops except the Fourth Ohio, Captain Simmons' 



History of Jerome Toivnship 173 

battalion, and two pieces of artillery, which were left behind 
to guard the train, and proceeded toward Huamantla; when 
within two or three miles of the place he ordered Captain 
Walker, with his mounted force, to gallop on, and if the Mexi- 
cans were in considerable force, not to attack them but to wait 
for the arrival of the infantry and artillery. 

"On arriving near the town, the Captain found that the 
main body of the enemy had started for the pass, while perhaps 
five hundred remained in the plaza. Upon these he made a 
furious charge, killing several of them and dispersing the rest, 
while he and his troops took possession of their artillery and 
ammunition. But before the arrival of the infantry the Cap- 
tain was surprised by a charge from some 2,500 lancers. In 
this fearful fray the Captain was mortally wounded and fell 
from his horse while encouraging his men to still withstand 
the fearful odds against them until the other troops should 
arrive. Soon they came to their relief, and before many min- 
utes the place was cleared of the enemy. Among the prisoners 
taken on this occasion was Colonel La Vega, brother to the 
General of the same name ; also Major Iturbide, son of the 
former Emperor of Mexico. 

"On the 11th the troops entered the pass and after the 
principal part of the train had proceeded some distance a 
wagon in the rear broke down and seven companies of the 
Fourth Ohio were left to protect it until another wagon could 
be brought back and the baggage shifted into it. While thus 
detained a party of lancers, about 1,500 in number, appeared 
on the right and to the rear. The companies immediately 
concealed themselves behind some brushes and awaited the 
attack. After considerable firing and maneuvering on the part 
of the enemy, the wagon that had been sent for came rattling 
and thundering through the mountain pass, which they proba- 
bly mistook for the approach of artillery, and with no little 
haste these valorous Mexicans took their exit to the opposite 
side of the plain. 

"Continuing the march, the troops arrived at Amazuque, 
and, after resting a few hours, pressed forward, intending to 



174 History of Jerome Tozi.')isInp 

enter Puebla and relieve Colonel Childs and his gallant band 
before night. On nearing the city the clash of arms was dis- 
tinctly heard, and also the Colonel firing a salute on his 
eighteen-pounder. The troops passed through the principal 
parts of the city, only occasionally being fired at by the foe 
concealed on the tops of the houses. This firing was kept up 
for some minutes, when, being returned with compound inter- 
est, the bells rang for a truce and the Mexicans abandoned 
the city. 

"The joy of Colonel Childs and his men seemed to have no 
bounds ; and no wonder, for they had been hemmed up in the 
northern part of the city for nearly a month, and a good part 
of that time they had been scant of provisions and water. 
Day after day they had lived upon flour, water and coffee, 
and these not in abundance. The enemy, finding that Colonel 
Childs would not surrender the place, had attempted to starve 
him out. So destitute of meat were the Colonel's men that it 
has been told they even ate cats ! Their ammunition was 
so nearly spent that they had to wrap six-pound balls to fire 
from the twelve-pound guns. 

"On the 19th of October details from the Fourth Ohio and 
other regiments started on an expedition against a party of 
Mexicans under General Rea, the noted guerilla chief. When 
about ten miles from Puebla the enemy was met with and a 
close conflict ensued. Retreating some distance, they again 
made a stand and fought desperately with the dragoons, but on 
receiving a shot or two from the artillery they again fled and 
ran into Atalixco. The loss of life in this engagement was 
considerable. The report of the Mexicans was 219 killed and 
300 wounded ; the Americans, two killed and one wounded. 
The forces were about 1,500 Americans and about the same 
number of Mexicans. 

"A detachment of some 300 men was sent to a little town 
called Iluacalcingo, for the purpose of capturing two pieces 
of cannon belonging to the enemy. The guns were hid on 
the arrival of the troops, but by a diligent search they were 
found and spiked, and the Americans reassembled at Puebla, 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 175 

elated with their success and the probable cessation of hostili- 
ties. The stay in Puebla was somewhat long — from the 12th 
of October, 1847, to the 2nd of June, 1848 — during which 
time the prospects of peace and war were alternating with a 
regularity perplexing and vexatious to the American forces. 

"On the 2nd of June orders were received to take up the 
line of march for Vera Cruz, and the 3rd found the troops 
hastening homeward." 

WAR OF 1812. 

From 1811 to 1814 was an exciting war period in the his- 
tory of this country. Union County was then on the frontier 
and near to the seat of war of the Northwest. 

The territory which now comprises Union County was but 
sparsely settled. The settlements were along the Southern 
border on Big Darby Creek and Sugar Run, and comprised 
the families of the Robinsons, Mitchells, Currys, Ewings, 
Sagers, Kents, Snodgrasses, Shovers and a few others. 

From the close proximity of these settlements to the seat 
of hostilities it would be expected that there would be ample 
material for an extended chapter on the services of the citizens 
of this county during the war of 1812. But the early history 
of this territory is very meager from which to obtain any data 
of the stirring events of that period. There are but few rolls 
now on file at the Adjutant General's office, and from these 
can be gleaned but little history, save the names of the mem- 
bers of the companies. 

Almost every citizen within the limits of the county who 
was a military subject at that time was in the service at some 
time during the war. 

The first military company organized in the county was 
recruited during the year 1813, by Captain James A. Curry. 
He was appointed enrolling officer of the district, including all 
the settlements along Darby Creek and Sugar Run, and or- 
ganized a company of which he was elected Captain, Samuel 
Mitchell First Lieutenant, and Adam Shover Second Lieuten- 
ant. Strange as it may seem, but very little can be learned of 



176 History of Jerome Township 

the other members of this company, although they were re- 
cruited from the old families of Robinsons, Mitchells, Ewings, 
Kents, Sagers and others. 

After a dfligent search among the records and inquiring 
among the oldest of the descendants now living, the following 
named citizens are known positively to have been members of 
this company : 

James A. Curry, Captain; Samuel Mitchell, First Lieuten- 
ant ; Adam Shover, Second Lieutenant ; James Buck. Calvin 
Carey, Ewing Donaldson, David Mitchell, Andrew Noteman, 
Clark Provins, Christian Sager, George Sager, Abe Sager and 
William Taylor. 

They were attached to a regiment the number of which 
cannot be ascertained. They first rendezvoused at Delaware, 
where orders were received to join General Harrison's army in 
the Northwest. They marched by way of Upper Sandusky 
and the Falls of St. Mary's to Fort Meigs, then returned by 
Wapakoneta and Piqua. The majority of them were called 
out the second time to build and garrison blockhouses on the 
frontier. The names of several citizens of this county appear 
on the rolls of Captain McClellan's company, among which are 
those of four brothers, James, William, Samuel and Robert 
Snodgrass. 

Captain James A. Curry first enlisted in June. 1812, at 
Urbana, in a company of light horse from Highland County, 
and was attached to Colonel Carr's regiment, composed mainly 
of Kentucky troops, and served in this campaign under General 
Tupper on the Maumee and River Raisin. He was detailed 
as a scout during that summer, and being an experienced 
woodsman, was kept constantly in service. I have heard him 
say he never performed a day's camp duty during this cam- 
paign. He was a fine horseman, was splendidly mounted on 
his own horse "Jack."' He and the scouts serving under 
him were constantly on the move examining the streams for 
Indian signs and watching the movements of the enemy. 

A company was organized at Plain City during the summer 
of 1818 or 1813, of which Jonathan Alder was elected Captain 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 177 

and Frederick Loyd First Lieutenant. They were directed to 
march north toward the lakes, about twenty miles beyond the 
settlements of Darby, and erect a blockhouse for the protec- 
tion of the settlements. They marched to the banks of Mill 
Creek, and after working three or four days a blockhouse 
was completed. Mr. Alder says : "There were seventy in all, 
and one, Daniel Watkins, was made Colonel and Commander- 
in-Chief." 

Mr. Alder, who had been a captive among the Indians for 
fifteen years and well knew their mode of warfare, condemned 
this as a very unwise move in the Governor to order so many 
men from the settlements, for he claimed the tactics of the 
Indians would be to "attack the women and children in the 
settlements and avoid the forts." 

They remained at the bolckhouse only a few weeks. There 
being a false alarm, it was not possible to keep men from re- 
turning to the settlements. This blockhouse was situated on 
the west bank of Mill Creek, about three miles northwest from 
Marysville. 

Thomas Killgore, who died at the residence of his son, 
Simeon Killgore, in Mill Creek Township, a few years ago, 
was a member of the company that erected this fort and was 
the last one left of the company. A short time before his 
death he gave a detailed account of this campaign and the 
building of the blockhouse, which was transmitted by Judge 
Cole to the Pioneer Association of Union County. So far as 
can be learned, this is the only fort ever erected within the 
borders of this county, and this is probably known to but few 
of our citizens. Of the company that erected this blockhouse 
it has not been possible to learn the names of any except those 
already mentioned. 

A number of the young men in the settlements enlisted in 
companies outside of the county and saw hard service during 
the war. Simon Shover, who lived on Darby near the old 
Sager mill, in Jerome Township, enlisted in and was Orderly 
Sergeant of Captain Langham's company, of Chillicothe, Ohio. 
He was a brave and gallant soldier, and had many hair-breadth 



178 History of Jerome Township 

escapes. At one time he was taken prisoner by the Indians 
and saved his Hfe by imitating a rooster crowing, by jumping 
up on logs or stumps, and flapping his arms and hands. This 
seemed to please the Indians very much, as they laughed im- 
moderately at his antics. Simon always claimed that this 
saved his life. He was taken prisoner at Winchester's defeat, 
and often expressed his indignation at the treatment of Gen- 
eral Winchester, who was abused and insulted by the Indians, 
without any check from the British. Simon Shover was one 
of fifty picked men, who made a sortie from Fort Erie, and 
spiked the guns of the British during the night ; and was. per- 
haps, the most distinguished soldier that went from the county. 
He was of a good family, and honorable and brave to a fault. 
He learned many of the traits of the Indians, and was ac- 
customed to entertain large crowds of citizens at all kinds of 
gatherings, such as "log-rollings," "huskin'-bees," "house and 
barn raisings" and "musters," with many interesting incidents 
of his adventures, both thrilling and ludicrous. Wherever 
"crowds were wont to assemble," Simon could always be 
counted as one of the number, and furnished much amusement 
by giving the "Indian war whoop." 

His voice was as clear and shrill as a trumpet, and he could 
give a genuine war whoop that would have caused old Tecum- 
seh to have marshaled his warriors for the field. Many anec- 
dotes might be related of his efforts to amuse the crowd during 
court term and on "training day." He was anxious to live a 
hundred years, and on meeting or parting with old friends he 
was wont to exclaim: "Hurrah for a hundred years!" 

The territory now comprising the county of Union was but 
thinly populated in 1812, yet many of her citizens left their 
homes in response to the call to arms with the full knowledge 
that their women and children were at the mercy of the Indians 
prowling along the northwestern border, and not a few of them 
rendered good service to the government in her hour of need. 
Ever may our citizens hold in grateful remembrance the serv- 
ices of the patriotic veterans of Union County in the War of 
1812. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 179 

The names of twenty-three soldiers who served in the 
War of 1812 are given in the attached roster. Of this number, 
Christian Adams. Ehjah Hoyt, F. Hemenway and Titus Dort 
and Simon Rickard did not enhst from Jerome Township, but 
were old residents and bruied in the different cemeteries of the 
township. Major Edward Barlow lived on the border of the 
township and was a well-known prominent citizen, member of 
the old red-brick Presbyterian Church congregation. He was 
an officer and participated in the battle of New Orleans under 
General Andrew Jackson. 

A number of other residents along Darby Creek in Darby 
and Union Townships, served during the war, among whom 
may be named James and Samuel Mitchell, George, Robert 
and James Snodgrass, James, Thomas, John and Samuel Rob- 
inson. 

In 1812-13 Colonel James Curry, a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary War, was called to Delaware to assist in organizing 
a regiment of soldiers in which his oldest son, James A. Curry, 
was a Captain, leaving his wife with several small children, the 
oldest of which was but eleven years of age, in the cabin on 
the banks of Sugar Run, with no neighbor nearer than John 
Kent and family, one mile distant through the dense forest. 
One day, during Colonel Curry's absence, the horses were at- 
tacked by the wolves, and stampeded with such a noise as to 
make Mrs. Curry believe the Indians were going to attack their 
home. Young Stephenson, then a boy of but eleven years, 
but with the coolness of an old backwoodsman, took down the 
two rifles, and, loading one, placed his younger brother, Otway, 
as a sentinel at the fence, in rear of the cabin, and while he 
attempted to load the other, the charge became fastened in the 
barrel. The two boys stood on guard for some time, ready to 
meet the invasion of the redskins. When night came on they, 
with their mother, went to John Kent's house and spent the 
night. The next morning, on their return with some of the 
neighbors, they found that the wolves had attacked the horses, 
badly injuring one of them, but that no Indians, or traces of 
them, were to be found. One of the old flint-lock rifles used 



180 History of Jerome Township 

on this occasion is still in possession of \V. L. Curry, son of 
Stephenson Curry. 

Sugar Run Falls, on the land of Colonel Curry, now owned 
by his great-grandson, Thomas H. Curry, was in the early 
days a beautiful and attractive place. The stream wound its 
way through a little valley, shaded by burr oaks and black wal- 
nut timber, and, surrounded as it was by good hunting and 
fishing grounds, it was a favorite place for the Indians in the 
early years of the present century. The old Indian trace, lead- 
ing from the Wyandot nation south, ran past the Falls, and 
the Indians continued to travel this route after there was quite 
a settlement along Sugar Run. 

The last Indians who visited this vicinity came about the 
year 1816-17. In the early spring, four Indians came from 
the north, and encamped at the falls for a few days. They 
visited Colonel Curry's house, and, as usual, were supplied 
from his table, as he was well known to the Indians passing 
along this route, and he w-as one in whom they had great con- 
fidence. When they left the falls they separated, two following 
the old trail and two traveling in a southwesterly direction. In 
a few weeks two of them again reached the falls, and had with 
them an Indian pony. They remained a day or two, and their 
two companions not arriving (it is supposed this was to be 
their place of meeting), they then stripped the bark from a 
burr oak tree, and taking yellow keel, which was in great abun- 
dance along the stream, traced on the trunk of the tree in 
rude characters an Indian leading a pony, while another In- 
dian was in the rear with a gun on his shoulder and the ram- 
rod in his hand, as if in the act of driving the pony, traveling 
northward. This done, they covered their camp fire and took 
the old Indian trail north. A few evenings after their de- 
parture, their two comrades arrived from the south, and learn- 
ing by the drawings on the tree that their companions had 
preceded them, they remained over night and the next morning 
took the trace and moved rapidly north. And thus the last 
Indians ever seen on the southern border of Union County 
took their departure from their once happy hunting grounds. 



History of Jerome Towyiship 181 

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION— 1776. 

At the close of the war of the Revolution, the soldiers 
were given lands in payment for their services. The territory 
comprising Union County is all "Virginia Military Lands," 
being a part of that between the Scioto and the Miami Rivers, 
all of which was set apart for the Revolutionary soldiers by 
the United States Government. 

Many of these old patriots took up these lands and in this 
way quite a number found homes in Union County. From 
this grand old Revolutionary stock sprang Union County's 
brave and patriotic sons who fought in the War of 1812, the 
Mexican War and the War of the Rebellion. 

Of these old heroes of '76, several are buried in the ceme- 
teries of this county. But little can be learned, even tradi- 
tionally, of their services, although many of their descendants 
reside in the county. Some of them are known to have fought 
at Yorktown, Monmouth, White Plains, Germantown and 
other historic battlefields of the war of the Revolution. 

Colonel James Curry and Henry Shover both served in 
Virginia regiments during the war of the Revolution. Mr. 
Shover enlisted in Louden County and emigrated to the terri- 
tory in which Jerome County is situated, before the breaking 
out of the War of 1812, and two of his sons, Adam and Simon, 
served in that war. No information can be secured of the 
service of Henry Shover in the War of the Revolution. 
Colonel Curry resided near Staunton, Augusta County, Vir- 
ginia, and as shown by the records in the War Department, he 
served as an officer in the Fourth and Eighth Virginia In- 
fantry, Continental Line. 

He was a private in the Staunton, Virginia, Company, un- 
der General Lewis, in Dunmore's war with the Indians on the 
Ohio River was severely wounded at Point Pleasant, Va., Oc- 
tober 10th, 1774, in battle with Indians under Cornstalk. He 
was a private in the 4th Virginia Infantry. Continental Line, 
at beginning of the Revolution ; Second Lieutenant, Eighth 
Virginia, December, 1776; First Lieutenant, June 24th, 1777; 
transferred to Fourth Virginia September 14th, 1778; Captain, 



182 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

September 23rd, 1779; was in battles of Brandywine, German- 
town, etc. ; at Valley Forge, 1777-78; taken prisoner with Lin- 
coln's army at Charleston, May 12th, 1780; exchanged June, 
1781 ; on staff of General Nathaniel Gist ; severely wounded 
at siege of Yorktown ; acted as second in two duels between 
officers while in service; with Washington at triumphal entry 
into New York, November 25th, 1783 ; served nearly eight 
years ; subsequent to war, was Brigade Inspector of Virginia 
militia. Clerk of Court of Augusta County, Virginia, Colonel of 
Ohio militia, County Judge, and member of Ohio Legislature. 

The battle of Point Pleasant, Virginia, is called "A First 
Battle of the Revolution" by Chambers' Encyclopedia, from 
which the following account of the battle is copied. As it was 
fought before war was declared and at least one citizen of the 
township was a participant, it will be of interest to all citizens 
of the township. 

"An important battle, fought October 10th, 1774, between 
Colonial troops of Virginia, under General Andrew Lewis, and 
the Shawnees, Delawares and other Indians composing the 
Northern Confederacy, led by Cornstalk as king and sachem 
of the Shawnee tribe, on the east bank of the Ohio River, and 
just above the great Kanawha. The village of Point Pleasant 
has since grown up on the spot where this battle was fought, 
which was and is to this day spoken of as the first battle of 
the Revolution. The 'Boston Tea Party' had already been 
held in the spring of the same year, and the 'Boston Port Bill' 
was received in May — the signal of actual conflict between the 
colonies and the Mother Country. Lord Dumore, Governor 
of Virginia, had been busy in the interests of England by way 
of stirring up a hostile feeling between the hardy white settlers 
and the various tribes of Indians, the object of which had be- 
come apparent. At last a crisis was reached. The legislature 
took action, under which General Andrew Lewis gathered to- 
gether 1,200 men at Lewis Springs, now Lewisburg, W. Va., 
and from thence proceeded to Point Pleasant, acting as was 
understood, in concert with the Colonial governors, who in 
person led about 1,000 men through the wilderness, striking 



History of Jerome TozviisJiip 183 

the Ohio at Wheeling, from which point he was to meet Gen- 
eral Lewis. All this time, unbeknown to General Lewis, the 
agents of Lord Dunmore had been busy concentrating the 
Indians in the neighborhood of Point Pleasant, and subsequent 
events show that he never intended to join his forces with the 
troops under Lewis. Our space will not admit of our giving 
the various facts substantiating this statement made so em- 
phatic in the history of the 'Border Wars' by Withers and 
others. 

"In this bloody battle, about one-fifth of the entire army of 
General Lewis were either killed or wounded, and of the In- 
dians, the number must have been even greater. It was the 
most severely contested battle of the kind of which we have 
any account, and was fought on both sides from behind trees 
in a dense forest of primeval growth, on one of the richest 
bottoms of the Ohio. It was wholly unexpected, the object 
being on the part of General Lewis, in fulfillment of the pur- 
poses on the part of the legislature, to proceed with an over- 
powering force in conjunction with Governor Dunmore, from 
Point Pleasant to the Indian settlement on the Scioto, beyond 
the Ohio. In vain did the brave Lewis look for troops from 
Wheeling. During the night of the 9th and 10th, a body of 
Indians was reported by a scouting party as having encamped 
near the site of an old Shawnee village, about six miles above. 

"At the same time advices were received that Lord Dun- 
more would cross the country directly to the Scioto. Before 
sunrise on the morning of the 10th, a hunting party returned 
and brought the startling report of 'four acres of Indians,' 
about a mile above the camp of General Lewis. The party 
had been fired upon. At once, on receipt of this news, the 
main body of the troops, under Colonel Charles Lewis and 
Colonel Fleming, were mustered into line. The battle soon 
began, and raged with varied fortune through nearly the entire 
day. The brave Colonel Lewis fell mortally wounded. Colonel 
Fleming was soon after disabled, when Colonel Field, who 
had come up with a re-enforcement, took command. This of- 
ficer had learned a lesson from the unfortunate Braddock ; 



184 History of Jerome Township 

but he, too, soon fell. At times the battle raged like a tempest. 
The roar of the musketry was continuous. The clarion voice 
of Cornstalk was, nevertheless, everywhere heard bidding his 
warriors, 'Be strong!' Be strong!' Seeing a warrior shrink, 
he sunk his tomahawk into his skull. The most unyielding and 
desperate courage was on both sides displayed until late in the 
afternoon, when three companies that had been retained in 
camp, perhaps on account of the Indians in large numbers on 
the opposite shore of the Ohio, under Captains John Stewart, 
Isaac Shelby and George Matthews — distinguished names — 
reached the rear of Cornstalk by a well-planned movement, 
and decided the fortunes of the day. 

"A treaty was entered into at Camp Charlotte, in Ohio, at 
which Lord Dunmore was present, who seemed to have a per- 
fect understanding with the Indians ; though the colonists were 
indebted mainly to Cornstalk for the treaty of peace which 
Dunmore seemed determined to postpone, as we might show. 
It was in view of the surprising valor displayed by the troops 
under General Lewis in this decisive battle that Washington, 
in the darkest days of the Revolution, was led to exclaim : 
'Leave me but a banner to plant upon the mountains of Au- 
gusta, and I will rally around me the men who will lift our 
bleeding country from the dust and set her free." 

OUR BOYS OF OTHER STATES. 

A number of Jerome Township boys left the parental home 
and the old farm soon after the close of the Civil War, in 
1865, and took up the duties of citizenship in other States. 
Robert A. Liggett went to Detroit, Mich., and was for many 
years a prominent official in the Michigan Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company. William M. Liggett, after serving two terms 
as Treasurer of Union County, moved with his family to Min- 
nesota, where he was very prominent. First serving as Com- 
missioner of Railroads, for eighteen years he was Dean of the 
Agricultural Experiment Station in connection with the Uni- 
versity of Minnesota. 

David G. Robinson, after graduation at college, was also 





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History of Jerome Toivnship 185 

graduated as a theological student of the Presbyterian Church 
and was an ordained minister of that church. William Mc- 
Crory went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he was a prominent 
business man. He projected and built the first interurban 
railroad line from Minneapolis to Lake Minetonka. James D. 
Bain was graduated as a physician, went to Great Bend, Kan- 
sas, where he practiced a number of years and was elected a 
member of the Legislature in that State. 

All of the above named are deceased. 

Of those who survive, Henry A. BrinkerhofT, who first 
served as a Lieutenant in the 30th O. V. L, was promoted to 
Lieutenant Colonel in the U. S. Army before the close of the 
Civil War. He remained in the Army and was retired a few 
years ago with the rank of Colonel, and resides in Oak Park, 
Illinois. 

James Curry was graduated from the University of Woos- 
ter, Ohio, in 1872. He then went immediately to San Fran- 
cisco, California, where, after two years' study, he was gradu- 
ated from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in that city. 
He was immediately ordained as pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church of San Pablo and Berkeley, and has been in the minis- 
try continuously for 40 years in the vicinity of San Francisco. 
He is a Doctor of Divinity, and in service is the oldest Presby- 
terian minister on the coast. He has written a history of 
Presbyterianism on the Pacific Coast, of which a large edition 
was published, and he has for a number of years been the 
Secretary of the Board of the Theological Seminary of San 
Francisco. He is now pastor of the Presbyterian Church at 
Newark, California. 

James Cone, Stephenson B. Cone, Daniel R. Cone, with 
their families, emigrated to Oregon many years ago. They 
live in the vicinity of McMinnville. excepting Stephenson and 
family, who live in Portland, and they have all prospered in 
a business way. 

Alexander D. Gowans resides at Centerview, Mo., and is 
now Mayor of that city. Thompson O. Cole is a successful 
business man of Great Bend, Kansas. James L. McCampbell 

13 



186 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

resides at Orange, California. David Curry, for many years 
a fruit grower in California, has recently changed his residence 
to Seattle, Washington. William B. Brinkerhofif, piano manu- 
facturer, Brazil, Indiana. Immer Robinson, produce mer- 
chant, Champaign, 111. 

Robert McCrory served two years as Clerk of the Courts 
of Union County and afterward practiced law quite success- 
fully a number of years, is now a resident of Spokane, AVash. 
James F. Chapman, Pomona, Cal. ; Heber Woodburn. Minne- 
apolis, Minn. ; Jacob Ruehlen, Hiawatha, Kan. ; George Butler, 
Rush Center, Kan. ; Festus Edwards. Chase, Mich. ; Samuel 
Nonnemaker, Topeka, Kan. ; Dunallen M. Woodburn, Hessing- 
ton, Kan., druggist ; A. M. Garner, railroad engineer for forty 
years, Mattoon, 111. ; Edgar G. Magill, a prominent physician 
of Peoria, 111. 

They were all schoolboys of Jerome Township, and it is a 
pleasure to note that some of them have been prominent in 
public life and all are respected citizens of other States. There 
may be others whose names are not recalled, but every effort 
has been made to ascertain the present address of all who 
reside in other States. 

OUR HEROINES. 

Soon after the first war meeting was held in the Seceder 
Church, April 24th, 1861, the company was organized and 
commenced drilling under Dr. James Cutler, afterward a Cap- 
tain in the First Ohio Cavalry, the mothers, wives and sisters 
said: "We can and will help." Busy hands were plying the 
needles, and in a few days uniforms consisting of red flannel 
blouses and black caps were ready to don. Flags were not 
so plentiful in those early days of the war, and the sisters and 
sweethearts were not content to purchase an ordinary bunting 
flag, but one stitched by their own hands should be carried by 
the boys as they marched to the wild music of the war-drums. 
A messenger was dispatched to Columbus, silk was purchased, 
and a beautiful flag was manufactured by these patriotic girls. 

Then came the call for 500.000 three-vear volunteers, and 



History of Jerome Township 187 

as a number of companies were organized in the county, they 
were all called to assemble at Milford Center July 4th for 
regiment drill. A wagon was equipped with a great platform 
decorated with bunting and was drawn by four white horses 
driven by Moderwell Robinson. In this wagon were seated 
thirty-one girls, dressed in white with red, white and blue 
sashes, representing all the States in the Union. The wagon 
was driven to the square in New California, and with appro- 
priate ceremonies and great enthusiasm the flag was presented 
to the company. Preceded by this wagon with the bevy of 
girls singing patriotic songs a procession was formed, some in 
wagons, buggies or carriages, and many on horseback, pro- 
ceeded to Milford, where the regimental drill was held, viewed 
by thousands of patriotic citizens. 

The flag was not taken to the field during the war, but the 
enthusiasm of that flag presentation by the loyal young ladies 
of this community — our own sisters and sweethearts — was 
an inspiration that followed the soldiers to the front and 
cheered them on battle lines. 

During our Civil War the loyal women of our country did 
not have the inspiration of the war-drums — no hope of fame 
for heroic deeds amid the clash of arms — no hope of reward 
but that of a nation saved. But her courage was equal to that 
of the soldier who carried the sword or the musket — when 
she sent father, husband, brother or sweetheart with prayers 
and blessings. 

The names of many of these girls are recalled and here- 
with published as our heroines — many of whom have passed 
to the other shore : 

Lizzie Gowans Abi Shaffer 

Jeannette Go wans Maggie Nunemaker 

Amanda McCampbell Martha Jane Fleck 

LoviNA Liggett Susie Ruehlen 

Mary McCampbell Sarah Mary Liggett 

Susannah Robinson Elvira Robinson 

Lou Robinson Belle Buck 

Ollie Curry Lizzie Laughead 



188 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Mary Curry Emma Robinson 

Phebe Curry Sarah W'oodburn 

Martha J. Robinson Eliza Hill 

Georgiana Robinson Fidelia Robinson 

Jennie Taylor Belinda Ketch 

Sallie Bain Nan Bain 

EsTELLE McCampbell Hester Mitchell 

Nan Beard Lou Cone 

Sarah Gill Hannah Beard 

Florence Woodburn Mary Ann Dodge 

Lovisa Ketch Sallie Ruehlen 

I recall vividly a scene on the battlefield of Shiloh which 
can never be effaced from my memory. The next day after 
the battle, fought April 6th and 7th, 1862, along the banks of 
the Tennessee River, I saw upon that terrible field of carnage 
a woman of my own kin. Her maiden name was Nancy Snod- 
grass, and when a girl she resided in Jerome Township. Her 
father, William Snodgrass, a cousin of my mother, one of the 
early pioneers of Union County, Ohio, had emigrated to Iowa 
in the early fifties when the daughter was a girl in her teens. 

Just at the beginning of the war she was married to a 
young man by the name of Vastine, who enlisted in an Iowa 
regiment. He was stricken with fever, and she came from 
her prairie home in Iowa to nurse him in the hospital at Fort 
Donelson. When he was restored to health he was detailed 
as a nurse and his young wife remained as a nurse in the 
hospital. 

She was on the field during the two days' battle, fought 
amid the forests and along the ravines, without breastworks 
or protection of any kind, where the loss in the two armies was 
upward of 2-4,000. The only woman on the field for many 
days after the battle, there she moved about among the dead 
and wounded, an angel of mercy, ministering to the wants of 
the suffering soldiers of both the blue and the gray ; the brave- 
hearted, sympathetic country girl, as true as the soldier who 
fell upon the field with sword or musket in hand. Any picture 
I could draw would give but the faintest idea of the reality. 



History of Jerome Totvnship 189 

The rain had been pouring in torrents, the Httle streams and 
ravines flowing toward the Tennessee were at high flood, 
while ambulances with sick and wounded, supply and ammu- 
nition wagons, were plunging through the mud and miring 
everywhere, as they wound their slow way back and forth 
from the field to the landing, where the hospital boats were 
floating in the river waiting to receive their loads of mangled 
bodies. Then there were the details burying the dead in 
shallow graves, or long narrow trenches, with not even a 
blanket to cover their faces or bodies. There had been a 
victory, and cheers went up from the camps of the living, and 
night was coming on. It was a weird scene, as plain to me 
as if but a few months ago. Yet more than half a century 
has passed since that bloody war tragedy on the battlefield of 
Shiloh. 

The groans of the suflfering and dying carried in on the 
litters or in the ambulances ; the broken neigh of some war- 
horse in ravine or tangled brush, shot through body or limb, 
vainly trying to struggle to his feet, and with a look of despair 
almost human as he raises his head in the throes of death ; a 
few camp-fires glimmering here and there, with a white tent 
which had not been disturbed by shot or shell in the terrible 
struggle just ended. A dim light of candle or lantern in some 
headquarters of the commander gleams through the mist. 
The splash of a horse's hoofs in the mud is heard as a weary 
staflf officer or courier dashes oflF on the gallop to some distant 
part of the line with orders for the movements and pursuit of 
the defeated foe at early dawn on the morrow. Many a sol- 
dier, with the dead piled thick around him, in his agonizing 
pains was thinking of the loved ones at home in the far-off 
Northland as he gazed at the starless sky — of mother, sister, 
or wife — when the flutter of a woman's garments was seen 
and he spoke softly, "A sister of mercy." Yes. a sister of 
mercy caring for the wounded that dark night. It was Nancy 
\'astine. the brave country girl, the only woman on that awful 
field of carnage, April 7th, 1862. A drop of cordial, a cool 
bandage, a cup of hot broth, are trifles for a man-of-arms to 



190 History of Jerome To-wnship 

long for, but the getting of them from a woman thrills the 
faltering heart with warrior blood, and many a life was saved 
on the field because a woman was around. 



ROSTER. 

ABBRE^^ATIONS. 

Adjt Adjutant inf infantry 

art artillery Lieut Lieutenant 

Bat Battalion Maj Major 

Col Colonel Regt Regiment 

Capt Captain re-e re-enlisted 

Corp Corporal res resigned 

com commissioned Sergt Sergeant 

cav cavalry trans transferred 

disc discharged vet veteran 

e enlisted wd wounded 

Gen General * died in army 

Roster of Soldiers who enlisted from Jerome Township, 
Union County, Ohio, during the War of the Rebellion. 
COIPANT K, 1ST O. V. C. 

Capt. James Cutler, e. Sept. 1, 1861; disc. April 20, 1863. 

Capt. William L. Curry, e. Sept. 1, 1861; disc. Dec. 30, 1864. 

Sergt. Patterson Bradley, e. Sept. 23, 1861; disc. Aug. 7, 1862. 

Sergt. A. L. Sesler, e. Oct. 26, 1861; disc. Sept. 13, 1865. 

Corp. William B. Herriott, e. Feb. 26, 1864; disc. Sept. 14, 1865. 

Clark, Sanford P., e. Dec. 5, 1861; disc. Feb. 11, 1863. 
*Ewing, James S., e. Feb., 1864; March 19, 1864, died. 
»Goff, Presley E., e. Oct. 15, 1861; July 10, 1864, died Anderson- 
ville Prison. 

Garner, Alonzo M., e. Feb. 26, 1864; disc. Sept. 13, 1865. 
*Lucas, Benjamin F., e. Oct. 15, 1861; July 23, 1862, killed. 

Ruehlen, Samuel H., e. Nov. 28, 1861; disc. Dec. 4, 1864. 

Ruehlen, William, e. Sept. 28, 1861; disc. Oct. 6, 1864. 

COMPANY C, 12TH O. V. C. 

♦Corp. William S. Channell, e. Sept. 7, 1863; Aug. 10, 1864, died. 
COMPANY D, 12TH O. V. C. 
Adams, Nelson C. e. Sept. 1, 1864; disc. June 15, 1865. 
Gary, Isaac, e. Sept. 5, 1864; disc. June 15, 1865. 
Hawn, Philip, e. Sept. 3, 1863; disc. Nov. 14, 1865. 
♦Heath, Daniel, e. Sept. 12, 1863; March 30, 1864, drowned. 
COMPANY F, 13TH O. V. I. (Three Months). 
Bain, James D., e. April 25, 1861; disc. Aug. 25, 1861. 
Wood, Harvey S., e. April 25, 1861; disc. Aug. 25, 1861. 
Collumber, Joseph, e. April 25, 1861. 

CO.MPANY F, 13TH O. V. I. (Three Years). 
Bain, David, e. June 5, 1861. 
♦Taylor, David O., e. June 5. 1861; May 27, 1864, killed. 
COMPANY G, 17TH O. V. I. (Three Months). 
Lieut. Daniel Taylor, e. April 22, 1861: disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Black, James, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 



192 History of Jerome Township 

Beach, Joseph, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Durboraugh, Washington, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Bancroft, William, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

♦ Fleming, Robert F., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Hill, Andrew, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Hobert, Leander, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
Hobert, Lorenzo, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861, 
Kent, David, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Kile, William N., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Kilbury, James M., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Langstaff, James G., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Langstaff, Justin O., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Lucas, Benjamin F., e. Aprir22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

McClung, John, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

McCune, David, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

McDowell, John P., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Norris, George, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Patch, Esley, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Perry, John F., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Perry, Luther, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Ruehlen, Samuel, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Ruehlen, William, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Stevens, Marion, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Surface, Reuben W., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Taylor, William, e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Wells, Lewis W., e. April 22. 1S61; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 

Williams, John P., e. April 22, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1861. 
COMPANY E, 30TH O. V. I. 
The only full company recruited in the Township. One 
hundred and two (102) men served in this company and 
thirtv-two (32) were killed or died of wounds and disease. 

Maj' Elijah Warner, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Nov. 9, 1864. 

Capt. James D. Bain, e. Aug. 28, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Asst. Surgeon Philander F. Beverly, e. Aug 5, 1862; disc. April 
6, 1863. 

First Lieut. Henry R. Brinkerhoff, e. Aug. 19, 1861; promoted 
to Lieut. Col., 2nd Miss. U. S. C. T. 

Second Lieut. Henry Hensel, e. Aug. 9, 1861; disc. May 15, 1862. 

Sergt. Horace Beach, e. Aug. 19, 1861: disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Sergt. Bazil Burton, e. Feb. 1, 1864; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Sergt. James Collier, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
♦Sergt. John Engle, e. Aug. 19, 1861: Aug. 10, 1S64, died. 

Sergt. Hiram Roney, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. July 6, 1865. 

Corp. Amos Beach, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13. 1865. 

♦ Corp. James Brobeck, e. Aug. 19, 1862; Aug. 10, 1864, killed. 
♦Corp. Caleb Green, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Dec. 16. 1863, died. 
♦Corp. Benjamin Gamble, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Sept. 1, 1863, died. 

Corp. Alexander Harkness, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp, James G. Langstaff, e. Aug. 19, 1861: disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp. Robert McCrory, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Sept. 3, 1863. 
Corp. John A. Porter, e. Aug. 19, 1861: disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Corp. Addison Wells, e. Aug. 19. 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Ashbaugh, David R., e. Aug. 13, 1862; disc. June 18, 1865. 
Ashbaugh, Milton O., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 193 

Beach, Joseph, e. Dec. 25, 1861; disc. June 25, 1865. 

Beaver, William, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. April 13, 1863. 

Bercaw, Jeremiah, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Feb. 24, 1863. 

Borland, William, e. Sept. 5, 1861; disc. Jan. 29, 1863. 

Brinkerhoff, William B, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Feb. 24, 1863. 

Brown, William G., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Bogan, Joseph, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Buckley, Joseph, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Buckley, Samuel, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Cabo, John, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Collier, William, e. Sept. 5, 1861; disc. Oct. 4, 1864. 

Cowen, James, e. March 10, 1862; disc. Aug. 17, 1863. 

Dennis, William H., e. Aug. 29, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865, 
♦Donaldson, David M., e. Aug. 13, 1862; Feb. 8, 1863, died. 
*Ellis, Daniel W., e. Aug. 19, 1861; March 6, 1862, died. 

Fleck, Thaddeus S., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Dec. 2, 1862. 

Forquer, Peter, e. March 26, 1862; disc. March 29, 1865. 

Freshwater, George, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
*Fultz, John, e. Aug. 13, 1862; August 15, 1863, died. 

Graham, Hezekiah, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
*Grubb, Benjamin C, e. Aug. 13, 1862; May 9, 1863, died. 

Grubb, William, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Dec. 29, 1864. 

Hahn, William F., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Feb. 1, 1864. 

Hahn, William H., e. Aug. 24, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1864. 
♦Hamilton, John E., e. Aug. 19, 1861; May 6, 1862, died. 

Hill, Andrew, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Hobbs, Sylvester, e. Aug. 22, 1862. 

Hoffiner, Lewis, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Feb. 1, 1862. 

Huffvine, Moses, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Nov. 14, 1862. 

Huffvine, William H., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Nov. 24, 1864. 
*Houts, Joseph, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Oct. 18, 1861, died. 
♦Hudson, Joseph, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Sept. 14, 1862, killed. 
♦Jackson, William H., e. Aug. 13, 1862; Aug. 16, 1863, died. 
♦Johnson, Samuel, e. Aug. 19, 1861; April 29, 1862. died. 
♦Langstaff, Juston O., e. Sept. 5, 1861; Nov. 25, 1863, killed. 

Lacourse, Alonzo, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. June 25, 1865. 

Lacourse, William C, e. Aug. 24, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
♦Laymaster, David D.; Aug. 24, 1864, killed. 

Mahaffy, Alexander, e. Aug. 19, 1861. 

♦ Marsh, David, e. July 13, 1862; July 17, 1863, died. 
Martin, Theodore, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Merryman, James M., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Moore, Albert, e. March 7, 1862; disc. March 6, 1863. 
Moore, Frank M., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Moore, Sylvester, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Sept. 31, 1863. 

♦ Morrow, Henry, e. Aug. 13, 1862; Aug. 13, 1863, died. 
♦Mullen. Ezekiel, e. Aug. 19. 1861; April 11, 1862, died. 

McCumber, Walter, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. July 6, 1862. 
McCumber, William, e. Aug. 19. 1861; disc. Dec. 10, 1862. 

♦ McCumber. Zeno, e. Aug. 19. 1861; June 1, 1863, died. 
♦Mclntire, James, e. Aug. 24, 1861; May 11, 1864, died. 
♦Mclntyre, Joseph, e. Aug. 19, 186]; Sept. 23. 1863. died. 
♦McKim, David, e. Aug. 19, 1861; April 9, 1864, died. 

Noble, Lewis C, e. Aug. 28. 1861; disc. Aug. 13. 1865. 
Norris. Robert, e. Aug. 13, 1862; disc. May 31, 1865. 



194 History of Jerome Tozvuship 

♦Patterson, John, e. Aug. 19, 1861; April 16, 1862, died. 
♦Patterson. Robert, e. Aug. 13, 1862; July 28, 1864, killed. 
♦Perkins, Atlas, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Oct. 3, 1861, died. 

Perry, Daniel, e. Aug. 13, 1862; disc. May 31, 1865. 

Perry, Luther, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Feb. 28, 1865. 

Preston, Thomas H., e. Aug. 13, 1862; disc. May 31, 1865. 

Roney, Jesse, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Ruehlen, Solomon, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Nov. 4, 1863. 

Schofield, James, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 31, 1864 
♦Scott, David S., e. Aug. 19, 1861; Feb. 26, 1862, died. 

Shaw, Thomas, e. Aug. 13, 1862. 
♦Skinner, Lyman B., e. Aug. 19, 1861; July 22, 1864, killed. 
♦Smith, David, e. Aug. 13, 1862; Aug. 18, 1863, died. 

Smith, Orville D., e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. April 17, 1865. 
♦Stevens, James, e. Aug. 19, 1861; Jan. 9, 1862, died. 

Stephens, Saulsbery, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Taylor, Adam, e. Aug. 19, 1861. 

Thomas, Byron, e. Aug. 19, 1861; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 
♦Urton, Thompson P., e. Aug. 19, 1861; June 27, 1864, died. 

Wagner, James, e. May 10, 1864; disc. Aug. 13, 1865. 

Wells, William, e. Aug. 29, 1861; disc. Sept. 1, 1863. 

Wolfe, John M., e. Aug. 13, 1862. 
♦Wollam, Andrew J., e. Aug. 19, 1861; June 27, 1864, killed. 
♦Wood, Aaron, e. Aug. 19, 1862; May 23, 1863, died. 

COMPAXY B, 32NI) O. V. I. 

Converse, Henry M., e. Aug. 9, 1861; disc. Nov. 11, 1861. 
McDowell, John P., e. Aug. 9, 1861; disc. July 20, 1865. 
♦McDowell, Robert N., e. Aug. 9, 1861; Oct. 4, 1862, died. 
Robinson, John B., e. Aug. 9, 1861; disc. July 20, 1865. 

COMPAXY G, 34TH O. V. I. 

Highland, Seth G., e. Feb. 26, 1864; disc. July 27, 1865. 

COIPAXY D, 40TH O. V. I. 
Conklin, David, e. Sept. 23, 1861; disc. Oct. 7, 1864. 
Hawn, Philip, e. Sept. 8, 1861; disc. May 1, 1863. 
Myers, Henry, e. Sept. 1, 1862; disc. June 21, 1865. 
♦McDowell, Jesse V., e. Sept. 17, 1861; Feb. 24, 1862, died. 
Snodgress, Delmore, e. Aug. 30, 1861; disc. Oct. 7, 1864. 
Robinson, Samuel B., e. Aug. 30, 1861; disc. Oct. 7, 1864. 
Bancroft, William, e. Sept. 21, 1862; transferred to Co. I, 51st 
O. V. L 

COMPANY B, 46TH O. V. I. 
Herriott, William B., e. Sept. 9, 1861; disc. July 22, 1863. 
Pence, David M., e. Oct. 14, 1861; disc. Aug. 11, 1862. 
Williams, John P., e. Oct. 2, 1861; disc. July 22, 1865. 

COMPANY E, 40TH O. Y. I. 
Corp. Charles S. Comstock, e. Sept. 27, 1861; disc. July 14,1862. 

CO>IP.\NY H, 46TH O, Y. I. 

Sergt. Ammon P. Converse, e. Dec. 14. 1861: disc. July 22, 1865. 
♦Sergt. James E. Gowans, e. Oct. 16. 1861; Nov. 25. 1863. killed. 
COMPANY G, 4«TH O. Y. I. 
Buckley, Edward R.. e. Nov. 17, 1861; disc. July 26, 1866. 



History of Jerome Township 195 

♦Hudson, William, e. Nov. 15, 1861; Dec. 25, 1862, died. 
*Uray, Thomas, e. Nov. 21, 1861; March 25, 1862, died. 
COMPANY K, 54TH O. V. I. 
Sergt. David Cook, e. Nov. 16, 1861; disc. Sept. 22, 1862. 
Sergt Marion Stevens, e. Nov. 30, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1865. 
*Sergt. James Clark, e. Nov. 26, 1861; Feb. 18, 1864 died. 
Beaver, George, e. Dec. 11, 1861; disc. Dec. 21, 1864. 
Robert Lorenzo, e. Feb. 8, 1862; disc. June 19, 1862. 
*Kent David, e. Nov. 23, 1861; July 4, 1862, died. 
Lape, Jeremiah, e. Nov. 12, 1861; disc. July 21, 1862. 
Lape, Zachariah, e. Nov. 11, 1861; disc. July 21, 1862. 
Martin, Charles, e. Nov. 9, 1861; disc. Sept. 29 1862 
McClung, William, e. Nov. 11, 1861; disc. Aug. 20 1862 
Surface, Reuben W., e. Nov. 23, 1861; disc. Dec. 21 1864. 
Nessle, George, e. Nov. 12, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1865. 
Norris, Jacob, e. Feb. 26, 1864; disc. June 15, 1865 
Norris. George K., e. Nov. 23, 1861; disc. Aug. 15, 1865. 

COMPANY C, 58TH O. V. I. 
Drum Maj. Dunallen Marion Woodburn, e. Jan. 16, 1862; trans- 
ferred to the 47th Regiment, U. S. C. T. 

CO.MPANY H, 63RD O. V. I. 
•Sergt. Eli Casey, e. Dec. 12, 1861; Oct. 4, 1862, killed. 

COMPANY F, 66TH O. V. I. 
♦Corp. Delmore Robinson, e. Nov. 13, 1861; J^lj 10. 1862. died. 
Collumber, Jesse, e. Jan. 27, 1864; disc. June 28 1865 
McKitrick, James H., e. Nov. 1861; disc June 28 1865 
Smith, Jacob H., e. Nov. 28, 1861; disc. March 27 1863. 
Smith John T., e. Nov. 28, 1861; disc. June 28, 1865. 
*Stithem, Leonard, e. Nov. 30, 1861; Jan. 20, 1862, died. 

COMPANY H, 66TH O. V. I. 
•Shineman, David, e. Oct. 14, 1861. 

COMPANY F, 83ND O. V. I. 
Oliver, Alexander H., e. Oct. 4, 1864; disc. May 26, 1865. 
COMPANY E, 85TH O. V. I. 
♦Smeck, Henry, e. June 6, 1862; Sept. 23, 1862, died. 
COMPANY E, 86TH O. V. I. (Three Months). 
Beach, William, e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 25 1862. 
Beaver, John, e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 2o, 1862 
Beaver, Nathaniel, e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept 2d, 1862. 
Chapman, James, e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 2d, 1862. 
Huffvine, Lewis, e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 25, 1862. 
Post Frank W., e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 25, 1862. 
Robinson, Chester L., e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept 2d 1862. 
Robinson, David G., e. June 3, 1862; disc. Sept. 25, 1862. 

COMPANY B, 86TH O. V. I. (Six Months). 
Corp R L. Woodburn, e. June 26, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 
Collier, Arthur, e. July 13, 1863: disc. Feb. 10 1864. 
♦Curry. Addison, e. June 26. 1863; Oct. 2, 1863 died. 
Gill Andrew, e. July 28. 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 



196 History of Jerome Tozvnship 

Hohn, Daniel, e. July 28, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

Hopliins, LaFayette B., e. June 25, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

Kahler, Henry, e. July 12, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 
♦Ketch, Lewis, e. June 20, 1863; Feb. 10, 1864, killed. 

Moffitt, John, e. June 20, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

McCampbell, William, e. June 23, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

McNeal, William, e. June 20, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

Robinson, Imer, e. June 26, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

Wise, Eli, e. June 22, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 
♦Wise, William, e. June 29, 1863; Jan. 4, 1864, died. 

Woodburn, Heber, e. July 28, 1863; disc. Feb. 10, 1864. 

COMPANY D, 88TH O. V. I. 

Corp. Isaac Mummy, e. Oct. 1, 1862; disc. Aug. 12, 1864. 

Bethard, James H., e. Oct. 1, 1862; disc. July 3, 1865. 

Fleck, William H. H., e. May 14, 1863; disc. July 3, 1865. 
♦Fulk, William, e. Oct. 1, 1862; April 12, 1863, died. 

Jackson, James, e. Oct. 1, 1862; disc. March 4, 1865. 
♦Mclntyre, George F., e. Oct. 1, 1862; Jan. 22, 1864, died. 

Mummy, Jacob, e. Oct. 1, 1862; disc. July 3, 1865. 

Norris, Jacob, e. Oct. 1, 1862; disc. Oct. 2, 1863. 

Wise, David B., e. March 7, 1863; disc. July 3, 1865. 

COMPANY H, 88TH O. V. I. 

Beard, Forrester L., e. July 22, 1863; disc. July 3, 1865. 
COMPANY H, 94TH O. \. I. 

Capt. Andrew Gowans, e. Aug. 7, 1862; disc. June 5, 1865. 
COMPANY' A, 95TH, O. V. I. 

Sergt. Daniel W. Ellis, e. Aug. 13, 1862; disc. Aug. 14, 1865. 

COMPANY D, 95TH O. V. I. 
O'Harra, William, e. Aug. 8, 1862; disc. Jan. 6, 1863. 

COMPANY" K, 95TH O. V. I. 

Allen, Benjamin F., e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. June 20, 1865. 
Allen, Calvin J., e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. Feb. 2, 1863. 
♦Beard, S. B., e. Aug. 11, 1862; June 17, 1864, died. 
Bethard, James F., e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. Aug. 14, 1865. 
Chief "Musician Clark L. Barlow, e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. June 

20, 1864. 
Bethard, William, e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. March 17, 1863. 
Myers. Jacob, e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. June 9, 1865. 
McClung, John, e. Dec. 6, 1862. 
Williams, John P., e. Aug. 11, 1862; disc. April 11, 1863. 

COAFPANY K, 9fiTH O. V. T. 

♦Sergt. Wm. D. Laughead, e. Aug. 6. 1862; Xov. 28, 1862, died. 

Sergt. Andrew J. Smith, e. Aug. 6. 1862; disc. Nov. 18, 1864. 

Sergt. Robert A. Liggett, e. Aug. 6, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

Corp. George Butler, e. Aug. 6, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

Corp. David Edwards, e. Aug. 6, 1862; disc. Feb. 20, 1863. 

Cole, Thompson O., e. Feb. 29. 1864; disc. March 8, 1866. 
♦Green, William J., e. Feb. 23, 1S64; July 23, 1864, died. 

Gowans, A. D., e. Aug. 6, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

Kent. William, e. Aug. 6, 1862; disc. Dec. 24, 1862. 



History of Jerome Tmvnsliip 197 

Liggett, William M., e. Feb. 29, 1864; disc. March 8, 1866. 
♦Liggett, Alfred P., e. Feb. 11, 1864; Sept. 15, 1864, died. 
♦Mitchell, George W., e. Aug. 4, 1862; Feb. 11, 1863, died. 

Morford, John W., e. Aug. 4, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

McGill, Edgar, e. Feb. 13, 1864; disc. March 8, 1866. 

McCampbell, James L., e. Aug. 4, 1862; disc. June 4, 1863. 

Mclntire, David, e. Aug. 4, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

Mclntire, George, e. Aug. 22, 1864; disc. July 7, 1865. 
♦Nonnemaker, Jacob, e. Aug. 4, 1862; Jan. 20, 1863, died. 
♦Perry, Jesse N., e. Aug. 4, 1862; Jan. 9, 1863, died. 
♦Ruehlen, George W., e. Aug. 6, 1862; Oct. 4, 1864, died. 

Woodburn, David H., e. Feb. 29, 1864; disc. March 8, 1866. 

COMPANY F, 96TH O. V. I. 

Williams, William H., e. Aug. 7, 1862; disc. July 7, 1865. 

COMPANY K, llOTH O. V. I. 
Heath, George W., e. May 3, 1864; disc. June 25, 1865. 

COMPANY H, 113TH O. V. I. 

Hudson, David, e. Aug. 14, 1862; disc. July 6, 1865. 
♦Sinsel, William, e. Aug. 12, 1862; Feb. 9, 1863, died. 

COMPANY A, 121 ST O. V. I. 

Capt. Otway Curry, e. Aug. 15, 1862; disc. June 8, 1865. 
Corp. Stephenson B. Cone, e. Aug. 15, 1862; disc. March 20, 

1865. 
Cone, James C, e. Aug. 15, 1862; disc. July 6, 1865. 
♦ Cone, Otway B., e. Aug. 15, 1862; July 21, 1864, died of 

wounds received June 27, 1864. 
Curry. David, e. Aug. 15, 1862; disc. July 12, 1865. 
McClung, John, e. Aug. 8, 1862. 
Warner, Joshua C, e. Aug. 9, 1862; disc. June 24, 1865. 

COMPANY H, 121ST O. V. I. 

Baker, Bernard, e. Aug. 17, 1862; disc. July 14, 1865. 
COMPANY I, 121ST O. V. I. 

♦Lieut. Robert F. Fleming, e. Aug. 16, 1862; Sept. 20, 1863, 
killed. 

Corp. John N. Bryan, e. Aug. 3, 1862; disc. June 8, 1865. 

Corp. J. M. Fookes, e. Aug. 18, 1862; disc. June 8, 1865. 
♦Ketch, Lewis J., e. Feb. 22, 1864; Aug. 6, 1864, killed. 

Lamme, Bowin J., e. Aug. 16, 1862; disc. March 30, 1863. 

Patch, Esley, e. Aug. 16, 1862; disc. June 8, 1865. 

Patch, Harmon, e. Aug. 19, 1862; disc. July 15, 1865. 

COMPANY C, 128TH O. V. I. 

Carson, Andrew L., e. Aug. 14, 1862; disc. June 5, 1865. 
Carson, Samuel H., e. May 1, 1862; disc. June 5, 1865. 

COMPANY G, 129TH O. V. I. 

Sergt. Chester L. Robinson, e. July 21, 1863; disc. March 8, 

1864. 
Clark, James, e. July 24, 1863; disc. March 8, 1864. 
Edwards, Festus, e. July 22, 1863; disc. March 8, 1864. 
HufEvine, Lewis, e. July 20, 1863; disc. March 8, 1864. 



198 History of Jerome Township 

COMPANY E, 133RD O. V. I. 

Sergt. Edward S. Churchman, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 

1864. 
Corp. Lucas B. Goff, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 1864. 
Pence, David M., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 1864. 

CO>LPANY K, 133RD O. V. I. 

Evans, Benjamin W., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 1864. 
Goff, Tillman, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 1864. 
South, Samuel, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 20, 1864. 

COMPANY H, 136TH O. V. I. 

Ryan, Nathaniel, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
COMPANY K, 136TH O. V. I. 

Lieut. Bowen J. Lamme, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Sergt. William Green, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Sergt. James Guy, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp. Isaac D. Mapes, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp. David McCune, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp. John Q. Adams, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Corp. John McCullough, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Chapman, James F., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Dall, Francis, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Kahler, Henry, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Kent, Marion, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Kent, William, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
McCullough, Zenis 0., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
McCune, Zachariah, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Mapes, Jacob, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Martin, George, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Martin, William, e. May 2, 1864: disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Nonnemaker, Samuel S., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Preston, M. A., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Sept. 1, 1865. 
Palen, William, e. May 2, 1864; disc. July 20, 1864. 
Ruehlen, Jacob, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Scott, John M., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Tarpening, Ira, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Warner, Isaac H., e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Wilcox, William, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Windall, Jacob, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 
Windall, Joseph, e. May 2, 1864; disc. Aug. 31, 1864. 

COMPANY K, 145TH O. V. I. 

Bowersmith, Jacob, e. May 10, 1864; disc. Aug. 23, 1864. 
COMPANY B, 174TH O. V. I. 

Corp. Robert E. Benson, e. Aug. 29, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Benson, John, e. Aug. 29, 1864; disc. June 28. 1865. 
Beach, Amos, e. Aug. 16, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Edwards. George C, e. Aug. 20, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865, 
Oliver, James, e. Aug. 29, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Oliver, William M., e. Aug. 29, 1864; disc. May 30, 1865. 
Swank, Thomas L., e. Sept. 1, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 

COMPANY C, 174TH O, V. I. 
Corp. Charles M. Adams, e. Aug. 30, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 199 

McKitrick, David F., e. Sept. 3, 1864; disc. May 22, 1865. 
Myers, Henry A., e. Aug. 30, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Perry, Albert T., e. Aug. 19, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Perry, Chas. W., e. Aug. 22, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 
Perry, Ezra, e. Sept. 3, 1864; disc. June 29, 1865. 
Wells, Marvel W., e. Sept. 17, 1864; disc. June 28, 1865. 

COMPAXY B, 186TH O. V. I. 

Roney, Chas. M., e. Feb. 21, 1865; disc. Sept. 18, 1865. 

CO>IPA?fY B, 187TH O. V. I. 

Corp. James Curry, e. Feb. 6, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Corp. James G. Langstaff, e. Feb. 13, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Beathard, Charles W., e. Feb. 6, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Brake, Lewis A., e. Feb. 15; 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Collier, Arthur, e. Jan. 31, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Dickson, Adelbert, e. Jan. 13, 1865; disc. Aug. 14, 1865. 
Edwards, Festus, e. Feb. 14, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Hawn, Philip M., e. Feb. 15, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
McCampbell, Addison, e. Feb. 14, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Post, Frank W., e. Jan. 15, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Romine, Henry C, e. Jan. 7, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Romine, Jacob M., e. Feb. 3, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 
Woodburn, Heber, e. Feb. 14, 1865; disc. Jan. 20, 1866. 

COMPANY C, 191ST O. V. I. 

Lieut. Henry Hensel, e. March 2, 1865; disc. Aug. 27, 1865. 
Lattimer, David B., e. Feb. 25, 1865; disc. Aug. 27, 1865. 

COMPAXY B, 197TH O. V. I. 

Lape, Emanuel, e. March 23, 1865; disc. July 31, 1865. 
COMPANY 1, 27TH U. S. C. T. I. 

Butcher, Joseph, e. Aug. 29, 1864; disc. Sept. 4, 1865. 
EIGHTEENTH U. S. I. 
*Beal, George, died. 
♦ Converse, H. G., e. March 12, 1862, died. 

Converse, Jasper, e. Aug. 27, 1861; disc. Aug. 27, 1864. 
♦Ditmus, Gotfried, died. 

Kahler, Joseph, e. Aug. 6, 1861; disc. March 7, 1867. 

McClung, James, e. March 4, 1862; disc. 1865. 

Patch, Lemuel. 
♦Rider, Henry, died. 
♦Stierhoff, George, Dec. 31, 1862, killed. 

Swank, George W. 
♦Williams, David, died. 
♦Latham, Alexander, died Nashville, Tenn., April 2, 1863. 

FOl'RTY-SEVENTH REGI.MENT, V. S. C. T. 

Dunallen M. Woodburn, drum major, transferred from the Fifty- 
eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; disc. Jan. 5,1866. 

SE\^NTH OHIO INDEPENDENT SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Capt. William McCrory, e. Oct. 8, 1862; disc. July 28, 1865. 
Dickson, Samuel, e. Oct. 11, 1862; disc. Sept. 8, 1863. 



200 History of Jerome Township 

TENTH OHIO BATTERY LIGHT ARTFLLERY. 

Adams, Charles M., e. Dec. 23, 1861; disc. Jan. 16, 1863. 
U. S. HiAVY. 

Daniel R. Cone served on "Baron De Kalb" and other gunboats 

of Mississippi Squadron. 
Llewellyn B. Curry served as Major and Paymaster on "Baron 

De Kalk" and other gunboats of Mississippi Squadron. 

SIGNAL CORPS. 

George W. Lattimer. 

COMPANY D, 9TH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

Kent, Philo, 

INDIANA INFANTRY. 

*Hill, James, regiment unknown, died in service Feb. 1, 1864. 
JAMES HILL. 

James Hill died Feb. 1, 1864. He was an English boy who 
had been in the United States but a few years. He died in the 
service, and his remains are buried in the cemetery at New 
California. Every effort to ascertain his service has failed, but 
he served in an Indiana Regiment. The service of this young boy, 
who gave his life in defense of his adopted country, must be 
marked "unknown." 

SQUIRREL HUNTERS, SEPTEMBER, 1862. 

Capt. James S. Ewing Huff, L. G. 

Beard, David D. Kimerly, Frederick 

Beard, Forester Kilbury, James 

Curry, Addison McCune, Zachariah 

Dort, J. B. Taylor, John 

Evans, Rev. B. D. Wilcox, William 

Ewing, Salatheil Windle, Joseph 

Fleck, W. H. Wise, Samuel 

JEROME TOWNSHIP. 

The following named soldiers who enlisted in the Town- 
ship were Commissioned Officers : 

Majors. 
Maj. Llewellyn B. Curry Maj. Elijah Warner 

Capt-ains. 
Capt. James Cutler Capt. James D. Bain 

Capt. Otway Curry Capt. William McCrory 

Capt. W. L. Curry 

Surgeon. 
Asst. Surg. P. F. Beverly. 

Lieutenants. 

First Lieut. H. R. Brinkerhoff, promoted to Lieutenant 
Colonel, U. S. A. 
Second Lieut. Henry Hensel Lieut. Robert F. Fleming 

Lieut. Daniel Taylor Lieut. B. J. Lamme 



History of Jerome Township 



201 



SPANISH WAR. 

Jerome Township. 

Colonel George Ruehlen, Quartermaster, U. S. Army. 

James Beaver, Company D, Fourth O. V. I. 

Wassen Beaver, Company D, Fourth O. V. I. 

Wm. Wise, Company D, Fourth»0. V. I. 

John Parmenter, Company G, First O. V. C. 

Thomas Parmenter, Company G, First O. V. C. 

Irwin Patch, Company G, First O. V. C. 

Chester M. Fletcher, Company I, Seventeenth U. S. I. 

Harry Hill, Company I, Seventeenth U. S. I. 

Wm. Peaks, Company I, Seventeenth U. S. I. 

WAR OF REVOLUTION — 1776. 

Col. James Curry served in the Fourth and Eighth Virginia In- 
fantry, Continental Line, eight years. 
Henry Shover served in Virginia Regiment. 

WAR OF 1812. 



Provin, Clark 

Dort, Titus 

Donelson, James E. 

Ewing, Scott 

Ewing, Donelson 

Hemenway, F. 

Hoyt, Elijah 

Kent, James 

Kent, William 

Sager, Abraham 

Barlow, Major Edmund 



Capt. James A. Curry 
Alder, Jonathan 
Buck, James 
Kent, Daniel 
Kent, John 
Shover, Simon 
Shover, Adam 
Noteman, Andrew 
Taylor, William 
Ricard, Simon 
Adams, Christian 
McClung, Joseph 

MEXICAN WAR — 1846. 

Cutler, James, Second U. S. I. 

Clevenger, William W., Company E, Fourth O. V. I., e. May 

12, 1847; disc. July 18, 1848. 
Lamme, William, service not known. 
Oliver, Alexander G., Companv E, Fourth O. V. I., e. May 12, 

1847; disc. July 18, 1848. 

NAMES OF SOLDIERS BURIED IN THE CEME- 
TERIES OF JEROME TOWNSHIP. 
NEW CALIFORNIA CEMETERY. 
Civil War. 



Robert N. McDowell 
William Little 
Jesse V. McDowell 
Daniel Straw 
George F. Mclntire 
James McClung 
Andrew J. Murray 
David Bain 
Charles S. Comstock 



Joseph Porter 
James E. Gowans 
Leonard A. Stithem 
James Hill 
Henry Smeck 
Frederick J. Hinderer 
William Wise 
Otway B. Cone 



14 



202 



History of Jerome Tozi'nship 



Joseph McClung 
Capt. James A. Curry 



William Clevenger 



Joseph Beach 
Henry Hensel 
John Patterson 
Robert Norris 
Hobbs Jackson 



War of 1812. 

William Taylor 
Elijah Hoyt 

Mexican War. 

William Lamme 
JEROME CEMETERY. 
Civil AVar. 

Charles Beach 
Calab Green 
Robert Patterson 
D. R. Ashbaugh 



War of 1812. 

Titus Dort Christian Adams 

EWIXG CEMETERY. 
Civil War. 

James E. Ewing Samuel B. Beard 

War of 1812. 

James E. Donaldson Scott Ewing 

AHTCHELL, CEMETERY. 

Simon Rickard 

Cl'RRY' CEMETERY. 
AVar of 1812. 

James Buck 

War of the Revolution. 

Colonel James Curry, buried July 6, 1834; remains removed to 
Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville, Ohio. 



OUR HEROIC DEAD. 

Names of Jerome Township Soldiers Who Died in the 

Army. 

COMPANY K, 1ST O. V. C. 

James Ewing, died at Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 1864. 
Presley E. Goff, died in Andersonville Prison of wounds. 
Benjamin F. Lucas, killed at Courtland, Ala., July 23, 1862. 

CX)MPANY D, 12TH O. V. C. 

Daniel Heath, drowned in the Ohio River, March 30, 1864. 
COMPAXY C, 12TH O. V. C. 

William S. Channell, died in hospital at Lexington, Ky., August 
10, 1864. 

COMPANY F, 13TH O. V. I. 

David O. Taylor, killed at New Hope Church, Ga., May 27, 1864. 
Joseph Collumber, died in hospital at Louisville, Ky., 1864. 

COMPANY E, 30TH O. V. I. 

John B. Engle, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1864. 
Andrew J. Wollam, killed near Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1864. 
Benjamin Gamble, died September 1, 1863, in hospital at St. 

Louis, Mo. 
James Brobeck, killed in action near Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 

1864. 
David M. Donaldson, died in hospital at St. Louis, Mo., February 

8, 1863. 
Daniel W. Ellis, died in hospital at Camp Union, Va., May 6, 1862. 
John Fultz, died near Vicksburg, Miss., July 24, 1863. 
Benjamin Grubb, died at Young's Point, La., May 9, 1863. 
Caleb Green, died December 16, 1863, at Columbus, O. 
Joseph Hudson, killed in action near South Mountain, Md., Sep- 
tember 14, 1862. 
John E. Hamilton, died in hospital at Camp Union, Va., May 6, 

1862. 
Joseph Houtz, died in hospital, Camp Ewing, Va., October 18, 

1861. 
Joseph Mclntyre, died while at home on furlough, September 23, 

1863. 
James Mclntyre, died in hospital at Columbus, O., May 11, 1864. 
David McKim, died while en route home on veteran furlough, 

April 9, 1864. 
Zeno McCumber, died at Van Buren Hospital, La., June 1, 1863. 
Ezekiel Mullen, died in hospital at Camp Union, Va., April 11 

1862. 
Henry Morrow, died on United States hospital steamer McDougal, 

August 13, 1863. 
David Marsh, died in hospital at Jackson, Miss, July 17, 1863. 
Robert Patterson, killed at Atlanta. Ga.. August 24. 1864. 
John Patterson, died at Cincinnati, O., April 16, 1862. 



204 History of Jerome Township 

Atlas Perkins, died at Gauley's Bridge Hospital, Va., October 3, 

1861. 
Lyman B. Skinner, killed at Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864. 
David Smith, died in regiment hospital, Camp Sherman, Miss., 

August 18, 1863. 
David S. Scott, died in hospital at Camp Union, Va., February 

26, 1862. 
Thompson Urton, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864. 
Aaron Wood, died in hospital at Young's Point, La., May 23, 1863. 
James Stephens, died in regiment hospital at Camp Union, Va., 

January 9, 1862. 
Samuel Johnson, died in hospital at Camp Union, Va., April 29, 

1862. 
William H. Jackson, died in hospital at St. Louis, Mo., August 

16, 1863. 
Juston O. LangstafE, killed at Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 

25, 1863. 
David D. Laymaster, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August 24, 1864. 

COMPANY B, 32XD O. V. I. 

Robert N. McDowell, died in prison at Winchester, Va., October 
4, 1862. 

COMPANY D, 40TH O. V. I. 

Jesse B. McDowell, drowned in Big Sandy River at Piketon, Ky., 
February, 1862. 

COMPANY H, 46TH O. V. I. 

James E. Gowans, killed November 2 5, 1863, at Mission Ridge, 
Tenn. 

COMPANT K, 46TH O. V. I. 

William Hudson, died June, 1862, at Memphis, Tenn. 

COMPANY K, 54TH O. V. I. 

James Clark, died at home. 

David Cook, died at home. 

David Kent, died July 6, 1864, at Nickojack Creek, Ga. 

COMPANY H, 03RD O. V. I. 

Eli J. Casey, killed at Corinth, Miss, October 4, 1862. 

COMPANY F, 06TH O. V. I. 
Delmore Robinson, died July 10, 1862, in hospital, Alexandria, Va. 

COMPANY F, 66TH O. V. I. 
Leonard Stithem, died at Urbana, O., January 20, 1862. 

COMPANY' H, C6TH O. V. I. 
David Shinneman, died Cumberland, Md. 

COMPANY E, 85TH O. V. I. 
Henry Smeck, died at home. 

COMPANY B, 80TH O. V. I. (Si.v Months), 
James A. Curry, died at Crab Orchard, Ky.. October 2, 1863. 
William Wise, died at Cumberland Gap, Tenn., January 4, 1864. 



History of Jerome Tozvnship 205 

COMPANY D, 88TH O. V. I. 

William Fulk, died at Camp Chase, Columbus, O., April 2, 1863. 
George F. Mclntire, died in hospital, January 22, 1864. 

CJOMPANY K, 95TH O. V. I. 

S. B. Beard, died June 17, 1864, in hospital at Memphis, Tenn. 
COMPANY K, 96TH O. V. I. 

Jesse N. Perry, died on board the Hiawatha, January 9, 1863. 

William D. Laughead, died in hospital at Nicholasville, Ky., No- 
vember 28, 1862. 

George W. Mitchell, died at St. Louis, February 11, 1863. 

Jacob Nonnemaker, died on board hospital steamer near Vicks- 
burg, January 20, 1863. 

George W. Reuhlen, died at Baton Rouge, La., October 4, 1864. 

Alfred P. Liggett, died at home while in the service, September 
15, 1864. 

William J. Green, drowned in Mississippi River, at New Orleans, 
July 23, 1864. 

18TH U. S. INFANTRY. 

George Stierhoff, killed at Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862. 

Gotfried Ditmus, died in service. 

H. G. Converse, died March 12, 1862. 

George Beal, died at Nashville, Tenn., 1862. 

David Williams, died in the service. 

Henry Rider, killed at Ringgold, Ga., 1863. 

Alexander Latham, died at Nashville, April 2, 1863. 

COMPANY A, 121 ST O. V. I. 

Otway B. Cone, died July 21, 1864, in hospital at Chattanooga. 
Tenn., of wounds June 27. 

COMPANY I, 121 ST O. V. I. 

Robert F. Fleming, killed at Chickamauga, Ga., September 20, 

1863. 
Lewis J. Ketch, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August 6, 1864. 
James Hill served in an Indiana regiment and died in the army. 



Index to Regimental Histories 

CIVIL WAR. 

First Ohio Cavalry 80 

Twelfth Ohio Cavalry 86 

Thirteenth 0. V. 1 91 

Seventeenth O. V. 1 94 

Thirtieth O. V. 1 95 

Thirty-second 0. V. 1 99 

Thirty-fourth 0. V. 1 103 

Fortieth O. V. 1 104 

Forty-sixth 0. V. 1 106 

FlJTY-rOURTH O. V. 1 107 

Fifty -eighth O. V. 1 109 

Sixty-third O. V. I Ill 

Sixty-sixth O. V. 1 112 

Eighty-second 0. V. 1 114 

Eighty-sixth O. V. I. (3 months) 117 

Eighty-sixth O. V. I. (6 months) 118 

Eighty-fifth 0. V. 1 118 

Eighty-eighth O. V. 1 120 

Ninety-fourth O. V. 1 121 

Ninety-fijth 0. V. 1 123 

Ninety-sixth 0. V. 1 125 

One Hundred and Tenth O. V. 1 129 

One Hundred and Thirteenth 0. V. 1 130 

One Hundred and Twenty-first 0. V. 1 132 

One Hundred and Twenty-eighth 0. V. 1 137 

One Hundred and Twenty-ninth O. V. 1 141 

One Hundred and Thirty-third 0. V. 1 139 

One Hundred and Thirty-sixth O. V. 1 143 

One Hundred and Forty-fifth O. V. 1 145 

One Hundred and Seventy-fourth O. V. 1 145 

One Hundred and Eighty -se\enth O. V. 1 147 

One Hundred and Ninety-first O. V. I. (one-year service) 149 

One Hundred and Ninety-seventh O. V. 1 150 

Seventh Independent Company. Ohio Sharpshooters 151 

Tenth Ohio Battery, Light Artillery 153 

The Squirrel Hunters 154 

Eighteenth U. S. Artillery 156 

Twenty-seventh U. S. C. T 159 

Forty-seventh U. S. C. T 160 

United States Navy 160 

SPANISH WAR. 

Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 162 

First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry 165 

Seventeenth U. S. Infantry 166 

Colonel George Ruehlen 168 

Mexican War 170 

War of 1812 175 

War of the Revolution 181 

Our Boys of Other States 184 

Our Heroines 186 

Roster ok Rfahme.nts 191 

Soldiers Buried in Cemeteries — Jerome Township 201 

OuB Heroic Dead 203 




OHIO r.VVAUYMAN 
"Going to the Front." 



SONGS OF WAR TIME. 
By W. L. CURRY. 

The music that inspires soldiers during war is not con- 
fined to the shrill fife, the rattling drum and thrilling bugle. 
While many a soldier on the weary march, almost ready to 
drop from exhaustion, has been cheered and enthused by 
drum and bugle, yet the old patriotic war songs sung in 
camp and on the march served as a tonic that buoyed the 
soldier up to new effort when overcome by hunger and 
fatigue. 

Some writer has said, "Let me write the songs of a na- 
tion and I care not who makes the laws." In times of war 
it is remarkable what an influence music has upon the sol- 
diers. The Russians chant their hymns as they are led to 
battle, as did the Boers in the recent war with England. The 
French army marches to battle singing the Marseillaise 
hymn. The German sings "The Watch on the Rhine," while 
the Englishman is wild with enthusiasm when he hears 
"God Save the Queen." The soldiers of the Union army 
during the Civil War were cheered when in camp, on the 
march, and on the battle line by many war songs which still 
touch a chord in the memory of every soldier and patriotic 
citizen. 

In the great crises of a nation, men seem to be born for 
any emergency ; not only great generals are produced to 
lead the armies in case of war, but men great in oratory, 
literature and poetry come from all the walks of life. So it 
was when the Civil War began. Generals, orators, men of 
literary genius and poets were ready to take their places as 
actors in the great drama of the sanguinary struggle to fol- 
low. 

In the beginning we had few patriotic or war songs that 
appealed to our people both old and young. Following the 
attempt of John Brown to arouse the whole nation by incit- 
ing an uprising of the slaves at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, 
came the song echoing all over the Northland, "John 
Brown's Body Lies Mouldering in the Grave, and His Soul 



Is Marching On." The melody of this old song had the 
right rhythm and swing for marching, and it was sung by 
the soldiers more than any other song during the war. How 
well the thrill of these old songs is remembered by the vet- 
erans of the war, and the wives, the sisters, and any of the 
fathers or mothers who may yet survive. 

The smoke had scarcely risen from the battered walls 
of Fort Sumter when all over the land was heard "Hail Co- 
lumbia," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," "The Red, White and 
Blue," and "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

"Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light. 

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? 

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, 
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming; 

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." 

The rattle of the war drums and the sharp ringing 
notes of the bugle were heard in every village, hamlet and 
city, and the boys were marching away gaily with measured 
step to the wild music. 

Then came "Rally 'Round the Flag" ringing from every 
hilltop and through every valley in the North. It was writ- 
ten by eGorge F. Root and sung by every man, woman and 
child as their fathers, husbands, brothers and sweethearts 
marched away. 

"Yes, we'll rally 'round the flag, boys, 

We'll rally once again. 
Shouting the battle cry of freedom." 

I remember most vividly the first time I heard that 
inspiring song. I had been taken prisoner and was on 
parole at Camp Chase in the autumn of 18G2. Happening in 
the city of Columbus one evening, I was attracted to the 
old Buckeye Hotel, located where the Chamber of Com- 
merce now stands, by sounds of merry making in that his- 
toric old hostelry. There I found a number of my young 
friends celebrating in their new uniforms, as a number of 
them had just been promoted to lieutenancies in their sev- 
eral regiments. They were singing "Rally 'Round the Flag" 



with great enthusiasm and it was very inspiring. I joined 
in the chorus and we marched out Broad Street to High, 
and down High to Town and back again, singing as we 
marched, followed by a great crowd — even the policemen, 
who always looked askance at soldiers making a noise on 
the streets, joined in the march and shouts of applause. 

When the call was issued by President Lincoln for 
300,000 men, there came another song, so appropriate, writ- 
ten by J. S. Adams : 

"We are coming, Father Abr'am, three hundred thousand more, 
From Mississippi's winding stream and from New England's 

shore; 
We leave our plow and workshops, our wives and children dear. 
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a silent tear; 
We dare not look behind us, but steadfastly before, 
We are coming. Father Abra'am, three hundred thousand more." 

Three hundred thousand more were singing "Tenting 
To-night," written by Walter Kittridge, a New England 
soldier. 

"Many are the hearts that are weary tonight 

Wishing for the war to cease, 

Many are the hearts, looking for the right 

To see the dawn of peace. 

Tenting tonight, tenting tonight, 

Tenting on the old camp ground." 

While the carnage of war was still raging, there came 
that pathetic, home-sick song by George F. Root, sung by 
the boys around the campfires on the eve of battle, when 
the lines were forming: 

"Just before the battle. Mother, 
I am thinking most of you, 
While upon the field we're watching. 
With the enemy in view. 
Comrades brave around me lying. 
Filled with thot's of home and God; 
For well they know that on the morrow, 
Some will sleep beneath the sod." 

The battle had ended and many of the boys had fallen 
in the wild charge. Those who survived wrote to the dear 
ones in the Northland the sad tidings of suffering and death. 



and then could be heard softly and sweetly wafted through 
the waving pines : 

"Do they miss me at home, do they miss me, 
'Twould be an assurance most dear 
To know at this moment some loved one 
Were saying, I wish he were here; 
To feel that the group at the fire-side, 
Were thinking of me as I roam, 
Oh, yes, 'twould be joy beyond measure 
To know that they miss me at home." 

When the sad news came from the boys on the battle 
lines, then could be heard in the homes the pathetic answer: 

"We shall meet, but we shall miss him. 

There will be one vacant chair; 

We shall linger to caress him. 

While we breathe our evening prayer. 

When a year ago we gathered 

Joy was in his mild blue eye, 

But a golden cord is severed 

And our hopes in ruin lie." 

The most inspiring poem of the war was "The Battle 
Hymn of the Republic," written by Julia Ward Howe. It 
is related that she spent an evening in the camps along the 
Potomac River; returning to her home, she awakened 
before daybreak and, in the dawn, wrote that w^onderful 
poem in an hour. 

During the great battle summer of 1864, when the 
Army of the Potomac under Grant was fighting through the 
Wilderness, and Sherman's Army was driving the Confed- 
erates through the mountain passes and across the rivers 
of Northern Georgia, there came from the prison pens that 
song of hope and confidence : 

"Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, 

Cheer up comrades, they will come, 

And beneath the starry flag, 

We will breathe the air again 

Of the freeland in our beloved home." 

There were many other war songs, among which may 
be named "Brave Battery Boys," "Kingdom Coming," 
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home." and a few other 
pathetic songs. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






